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Radiation proctitis in the rat: Sequential changes and effects of anti‐inflammatory agents
Author(s) -
Northway Margaret G.,
Scobey Martin W.,
Geisinger Kim R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19881101)62:9<1962::aid-cncr2820620916>3.0.co;2-t
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation proctitis , proctitis , sucralfate , rectum , piroxicam , edema , radiation therapy , colonoscopy , gastroenterology , necrosis , pathology , urology , cancer , colorectal cancer , alternative medicine , disease , ulcerative colitis
Female Wistar rats were treated with single exposure irradiation to 2 cm of distal colon to cause radiation proctitis. All animals were evaluated by examination, colonoscopy and histologic evaluation for changes post‐irradiation. Exposures of 10,12.5,15,17.5,20, 22.5, 25, 27.5 and 30 Gy caused dose‐related clinical and histologic changes peaking at 7 to 15 days post‐exposure. Rats treated with 20 Gy were colonoscoped and biopsied daily and showed sequential post‐irradiation endoscopic changes ranging from mucosal edema and mild inflammatory changes to erosion and ulcers. Histologically, crypt abscess and mural wall necrosis similar to changes found in the human rectum after radiotherapy were noted. Treatment with nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory agents, (aspirin, indomethacin, piroxicam), misoprostol (a prostaglandin E 1 analogue), or sucralfate (an anti‐ulcer agent) did not ameliorate nor exacerbate radiation proctitis in rats exposed to 22.5 Gy. We conclude from these data that the female Wistar rat is a good model for studying radiation proctitis because endoscopic, histologic, and clinical changes seen post‐exposure closely resemble those found in man.