title: Binding of hydrogen sulfide by bismuth does not prevent dextran sulfate-induced colitis in rats.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that ulcerative colitis could be caused by excessive bacterial production of H2S in the colon. A rodent model of colitis involves the feeding of nonabsorbable, carbohydrate-bound sulfate in the form of dextran sulfate or carrageenan. The observation that metronidazole blocks the development of this colitis suggested that the injurious agent could be a sulfur-containing compound (such as H2S) that is released during the bacterial metabolism of the nonabsorbed sulfate. We tested this possibility by feeding rats dextran sulfate, with or without bismuth subsalicylate, a compound that avidly binds H2S. Bismuth subsalicylate reduced the fecal release of H2S in dextran sulfate-treated rats to values well below that of controls. Nevertheless, all the animals developed colitis. We conclude that excessive H2S production does not play a role in the dextran sulfate model of colitis.
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Minnesota 55417, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Furne
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Springfield
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001729:Bismuth / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012459:Salicylates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012459:Salicylates; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D001729:Bismuth; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide