title: Assessment of colon and bladder crosstalk in an experimental colitis model using contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) consists of two chronic remitting-relapsing inflammatory disorders in the colon referred to as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD). Inflammatory bowel disease affects about 1.4 million Americans. 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis is a widely used model of experimental intestinal inflammation with characteristic transmural and segmental lesions that are similar to CD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we report on the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) to monitor in vivo bladder permeability changes resulting from bladder crosstalk following colon TNBS exposure, and TNBS-induced colitis. Changes in MRI signal intensities and histology were evaluated for both colon and bladder regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uptake of contrast agent in the colon demonstrated a significant increase in signal intensity (SI) for TNBS-exposed rats (p < 0.01) compared to controls. In addition, a significant increase in bladder SI for colon TNBS-exposed rats (p < 0.001) was observed compared to saline controls. Histological damage within the colon was observed, however, bladder histology indicated a normal urothelium in rats with TNBS-induced colitis, despite increased permeability seen by CE-MRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrast-enhanced MRI was able to quantitatively measure inflammation associated with TNBS-induced colitis, and assess bladder crosstalk measured as an increase in urothelial permeability. Although CE-MRI is routinely used to assess inflammation with IBD, currently there is no diagnostic test to assess bladder crosstalk with this disease, and our developed method may be useful in providing crosstalk information between organ and tissue systems in IBD patients, in addition to colitis.
authors: Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Towner
authors: Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Smith
authors: Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Saunders
authors: Department of Urology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: S B
authors: SB
authors: Van Gordon
authors: Department of Physiology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: K R
authors: KR
authors: Tyler
authors: Department of Urology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Wisniewski
authors: Department of Physiology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Greenwood-Van Meerveld
authors: Department of Urology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
authors: R E
authors: RE
authors: Hurst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000473:pathology*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010539:Permeability; D051381:Rats; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Gd-DTPA; bladder; colitis; colon; contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; histology; rats; trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid