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37 DEXTRAN SULFATE SODIUM (DSS) INDUCED COLITIS REDUCES MUCOSAL BARRIER FUNCTION IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS PT Mallon1, M McKenna2, SJ Kirk1, KR Gardiner1 BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common debilitating disease associated with reduced mucosal barrier function. DSS induces a colitis in Sprague Dawley rats that has similarities to UC. The aim of this study was to assess changes in gut mucosal barrier function in DSS colitis and to further correlate this with inflammatory response as assessed by myloperoxidase (MPO), histological score and weight loss.
Department of 1Surgery and 2Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland
METHODS: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomized to three groups (n=10), group 1 received 4% DSS for seven days, group 2 received 4% DSS for seven days followed by water only for seven days, group 3 (control) received water only for seven days. Mucosal barrier function was assessed by 14C PEG permeability. Histological damage score, MPO, hematocrit and weight change were also assessed
RESULTS: Significance was at P<0.05 using the Mann-Whitney test. 14C PEG permeability (P=0.01), MPO (P=0.01) and histological damage (P=0.01) score was increased in group 1 vs group 3. Hematocrit and weight change (P=0.01) were reduced. There was no difference in 14C permeability between groups 2 and 3.
CONCLUSIONS: 4% DSS impairs gut mucosal barrier function in Sprague Dawley rats this correlates with MPO, histological score, hematocrit and weight change. Barrier function returns to normal following cessation of administration of DSS. This study documents inflammatory response and mucosal barrier changes in colitis and furthermore supports the validity of DSS as a reproducible model of UC.