title: Germinated barley foodstuff suppresses dextran sulfate experimental colitis in rats: the role of mast cells.
abstract: Recent studies have suggested that dietary fiber exerts a therapeutic effect on inflammatory bowel disease patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary fiber, germinated barley foodstuff (GBF), derived from the aleurone and scutellum fraction of germinated barley against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 3% DSS diet containing GBF or alpha-cellulose for 8 days. The mucosal damage (macroscopic and microscopic inflammation) was then quantified. In addition, we evaluated the alterations in the mucosal mast cells and connective tissues. GBF effectively prevented mucosal damage. In addition, GBF suppressed the infiltration of the mucosal mast cells, and prevented the distraction of both collagen and elastic fibers. These effects may be closely associated with its inhibitory effects on mucosal mast cells, and the destruction of the mucosal connective tissues.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Pathology, Shiga University of Medical Science, 6-13-20 Aoyama, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan. bileacidaraki@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kanauchi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujiyama
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hattori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016264:Dextran Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D016264:Dextran Sulfate