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The effect of heparin on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid‐induced colitis in the rat
Author(s) -
Walter Fries,
E. Pagiaro,
Erica Canova,
Paolo Carraro,
Giulia Gasparini,
Fabio Pomerri,
Alessandro Martin,
Chiara Carlotto,
Emanuela Mazzon,
Giacomo Carlo Sturniolo,
Giuseppe Longo
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.1998.00293.x
Subject(s) - colitis , medicine , heparin , myeloperoxidase , inflammatory bowel disease , saline , enema , gastroenterology , pharmacology , inflammation , disease
Background: Reduced blood coagulability seems to protect against inflammatory bowel disease; pilot studies using heparin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease have reported positive results. Aim: To evaluate the effects of heparin treatment on microangiographic and on inflammatory parameters in experimental colitis, induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)‐ethanol. Methods: Four groups of rats: (i) controls (saline enema), TNBS‐induced colitis with (ii) sham treatment (saline, s.c.), (iii) dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg/day s.c.) and (iv) heparin (500 U/kg t.d.s., s.c.). Microangiography was performed 2 and 4 days after colitis induction. Partial thromboplastin time, colonic wet weight, macroscopic damage score and mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined at day 4. Results: TNBS‐induced colitis caused a reduction in visible bowel wall vessels, which was prevented by heparin ( P < 0.05) but not by steroids. The macroscopic damage scores and colon wet weights were similar in all colitis groups. Compared to untreated colitis the MPO activity in heparin‐treated animals was of borderline significance. Conclusions: Heparin treatment improved microangiographic features and reduced inflammation to a certain degree. Steroids delayed development of colon hypoperfusion, but were ineffective on MPO activity. It remains to be determined if the observed effects are due to the antithrombotic activity of heparin or to an anti‐inflammatory action.