Anti-neutrophil serum attenuates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colonic damage in the rat.
BACKGROUND
The role of neutrophils in experimental colonic damage induced by dextran sulfate sodium is uncertain. We test the hypothesis that neutrophils are of pathogenic significance and anti-neutrophil serum will attenuate the colonic damage induced by oral dextran sulfate sodium in rats.


METHODS
Rabbit anti-rat neutrophil serum (anti-neutrophil serum) or control rabbit serum was administered to, and circulating neutrophil count was monitored in, rats before and during feeding of dextran sulfate sodium or regular rat diet for 2 weeks. Histologic features of mucosal damage were evaluated in hematoxylin and eosin-stained proximal and distal colonic sections by a blinded observer.


RESULTS
Oral dextran sulfate sodium induces weight loss, diarrhea, peripheral neutrophilia, and colonic damage. Anti-neutrophil serum induced neutropenia and significantly attenuated the weight loss, the neutrophil infiltration in the colon, and the mucosal necrosis and pathologic index in the distal colon.


CONCLUSIONS
The data showing that anti-neutrophil serum attenuates distal colonic mucosal injury induced by dextran sulfate sodium support the hypothesis that neutrophils play a pathogenic role in this model of colonic mucosal damage.
Domek
M J
MJ
Research Service, Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center, CA 91343, USA.
Iwata
F
F
Blackman
E I
EI
Kao
J
J
Baker
M
M
Vidrich
A
A
Leung
F W
FW
D000818:Animals; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D007106:Immune Sera; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D007106:Immune Sera; D016264:Dextran Sulfate