Increased ex-vivo colonic generation of PAF induced by diphenylmethane stimulant laxatives in rats, mice, guinea-pigs and rabbits.

The effects of in-vivo treatment with bisacodyl, phenolphthalein, picosulphate, sulphosuccinate, mannitol and lactulose laxatives were examined on the ex-vivo formation of platelet-activating factor (PAF) by duodenum and colon of rat, mouse, guinea-pig and rabbit. Bisacodyl (10 mg kg-1), phenolphthalein (20 mg kg-1) and picosulphate (10 mg kg-1), but not sulphosuccinate (40 mg kg-1), mannitol (50 mg kg-1) or lactulose (50 mg kg-1), at doses that all caused laxation, markedly increased PAF in the colon (P < 0.01) but not in the duodenum. Intraluminal release of acid phosphatase was also significantly increased in the colon of rats treated with bisacodyl, phenolphthalein and picosulphate, but not in colons of animals treated with sulphosuccinate, mannitol or lactulose. The data show that enhanced generation of PAF is associated with the colonic damage induced by diphenylmethane laxatives, but do not show whether this is a cause or a consequence of the pathophysiological changes.