title: Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals rectovaginal fistula in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rectovaginal fistula is a devastating condition providing more than 99% of patients for surgical treatment. We hypothesized that rectovaginal fistula may be healed by therapy with stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, in consistence with its initial clinical application and effect on external fistulas.
  
  
  METHODS
  BPC 157 (10μg/kg or 10ng/kg) was given perorally, in drinking water (0.16μg/ml or 0.16ng/ml, 12ml/rat/day) till sacrifice, or alternatively, intraperitoneally, first application at 30min after surgery, last at 24h before sacrifice. Controls simultaneously received an equivolume of saline (5.0ml/kg ip) or water only (12ml/rat/day). The assessment (i.e., rectal and vaginal defect, fistula leakage, defecation through the fistula, adhesions and intestinal obstruction as healing processes) was at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regularly, rectovaginal fistulas exhibited poor healing, with both of the defects persisting, continuous fistula leakage, defecation through the fistula, advanced adhesion formation and intestinal obstruction. By contrast, BPC 157 given perorally or intraperitoneally, in μg- and ng-regimens rapidly improved the whole presentation, with both rectal and vaginal defects simultaneously ameliorated and eventually healed. The maximal instilled volume was continuously raised till the values of healthy rats were achieved, there were no signs of defecation through the fistula. A counteraction of advanced adhesion formation and intestinal obstruction was achieved. Microscopic improvement was along with macroscopic findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BPC 157 effects appear to be suited to induce a full healing of rectovaginal fistulas in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 3b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baric
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 9, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Anita Zenko
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Sever
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 9, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Lovorka Batelja
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Vuletic
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 3b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Zarko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rasic
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 3b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sever
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, POB 916, Salata 11, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Domagoj
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drmic
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 3b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pavelic-Turudic
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 3b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sucic
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 3b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Hrvoje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vrcic
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Salata 9, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seiwerth
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, POB 916, Salata 11, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: sikiric@mef.hr.
authors.forename: Predrag
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sikiric
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; C083833:BPC 157
keywords: BPC 157; Healing; Rats; Rectovaginal fistula