Effect of Pediococcus pentosaceus at different doses on in vivo model of acute ulcerative colitis.Effect of Pediococcus pentosaceus at different doses on in vivo model of acute ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon, whose characteristic symptoms include rectal bleeding or bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss. Factors associated with the development of CU is the change of intestinal microbiota, for example declining species of Pediococcus. Therefore a new alternatives for the treatment of UC is the use of probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts exert a beneficial effect on human health. There are several strains of Pediococcus pentosaceus with probiotic properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of different doses of Pediococcus pentosaceus on in vivo model of acute ulcerative colitis induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Thirty‐six male BALB/c mice weighing 20–22 g were housed in groups of 6 mice/cage. Acute colitis was induced by administration of DSS (molecular weight 40 kDa) 3.5% wt/vol in drinking water ad libitum for 7 days. At day 2 during induction of colitis, four groups were administered via gastric tube once daily at different doses of Pediococcus pentosaceus (1×107, 1×108, 1×109, and 1×1010 Colony Forming Units(CFU)). The clinical course of colitis was monitored by a daily disease activity index consisting of the three parameters weight loss, stool consistency, and perianal bleeding. The animals were sacrificed on the seventh day, the colon length was measured and histology were performed using H & E staining. P. pentosaceus at dose of 1×107, 1×108, 1×109, 1×1010 CFU didn't change the weight in animals with ulcerative colitis. However, the animals treated with P. pentosaceus at dose of 1×1010 delay the onset of diarrhea and bleeding during the induction of damage and showed a disease activity index by 41% less than the UC group. Furthermore, this group has a 21.3% less colon shortening than the CU group (p <0.05). The groups treated with P. pentosaceus at different doses (1×107, 1×108, 1×109 and 1×1010 UFC) didn't show damage to the submucosa of the colon, because the damage is only present in the area of the mucosa and muscularis mucosa. In conclusion Pediococcus pentosaceus treatment at the dose of 1×1010 CFU delayed the onset of some of the symptoms of acute ulcerative colitis in animals. Support or Funding Information Lorena Torres Aguilar es fellowship from CONACYT