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Effect of escitalopram on an acetic acid‐induced ulcerative colitis model
Author(s) -
Firouzabadi Negar,
Alimoradi Nahid,
Najafizadeh Mohammad,
Najafizadeh Parvaneh
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/1440-1681.13474
Subject(s) - escitalopram , malondialdehyde , ulcerative colitis , gastroenterology , myeloperoxidase , medicine , prednisolone , superoxide dismutase , oxidative stress , colitis , pharmacology , inflammation , antidepressant , disease , hippocampus
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with an unknown aetiology and pathogenesis. Regarding the effectiveness of antidepressants on UC in animal models of depression and the known anti‐inflammatory effects of escitalopram this study was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of escitalopram on an acetic acid‐induced UC model without depression. UC model was induced by intra rectal (i.r.) administration of 4% acetic acid in rats after 24 hours of fasting. Animals were treated with three doses of escitalopram (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg). Prednisolone (4 mg/kg) was used as a reference drug in UC. Histological and oxidative stress markers were measured in all groups. Results showed significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as significant decrease in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, macroscopic factors (ulcer surface area, ulcer severity and weight‐to‐colon ratio) and microscopic and histological parameters (severity and extent of inflammation, cryptic destruction and severity of tissue involvement) in escitalopram treated rats (10, 20 mg/kg) compared to the UC group. In conclusion, the results of our study are in support of beneficial anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects of escitalopram in UC.