Immune complex induced experimental colitis: beneficial effect of sulphasalazine in rabbits.
Experimental colitis was induced in rabbits by exposing the colon mucosa to 1% formalin followed by i.v. injections of soluble immune complexes made with antigen in excess. The animals were preimmunized with Escherichia coli O14:K7:H--inducing antibodies cross-reactive to intestinal epithelium. Animals with this colitis were divided in two groups. One group was treated with sulphasalazine and the other was given vehicle only. Sulphasalazine was administered daily at 125.5 mumol (50 mg) per kg body weight. The administration was started at the same day as the colitis was initiated. At Day 6, 13 and 30 following induction of colitis, biopsies were sampled and histologically evaluated. Inflammation was assessed by scores for inflammatory cells, crypt distortion, decreased crypt number and presence of crypt abscesses, thus corresponding to the picture seen in humans. A statistically significant lower score of inflammation was seen on Day 6 and 13 (P less than 0.01) and on Day 30 (P less than 0.05) following induction of colitis in animals treated with sulphasalazine.
Axelsson
L G
LG
Department of *Biomedical Research, Pharmacia LEO Therapeutics AB, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ahlstedt
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000276:immunology; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000906:Antibodies; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D012460:Sulfasalazine