title: Azithromycin and erythromycin ameliorate the extent of colonic damage induced by acetic acid in rats.
abstract: Ulcerative colitis is a common inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown etiology. Recent studies have revealed the role of some microorganisms in the initiation and perpetuation of IBD. The role of antibiotics in the possible modulation of colon inflammation is still uncertain. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two macrolides, namely azithromycin and erythromycin, at different doses on the extent and severity of ulcerative colitis caused by intracolonic administration of 3% acetic acid in rats. The lesions and the inflammatory response were assessed by histology and measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in colonic tissues. Inflammation following acetic acid instillation was characterized by oedema, diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis. Increase in MPO, NOS and TNFalpha was detected in the colonic tissues. Administration of either azithromycin or erythromycin at different dosage (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg orally, daily for 5 consecutive days) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the colonic damage, MPO and NOS activities as well as TNFalpha level. This reduction was highly significant with azithromycin when given at a dose of 40 mg/kg. It is concluded that azithromycin and erythromycin may have a beneficial therapeutic role in ulcerative colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. afaf_mahgoub@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Afaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahgoub
authors.forename: Azza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Medany
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arafah
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moursi
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004917:Erythromycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017963:Azithromycin; D009195:Peroxidase; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019342:Acetic Acid