Effects of budesonide and probiotics enemas on the systemic inflammatory response of rats with experimental colitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of enemas containing probiotics and budesonide on the systemic inflammatory response in experimental colitis.

METHODS

Fifty male Wistar rats with experimental colitis induced by 10% acetic acid enema were randomized to five groups (10 rats each) according to the treatment: group 1--saline solution, group 2--budesonide (0.75 mg/kg/day), group 3--probiotics (1mg/day), group 4--probiotics plus budesonide, and group 5--control, with not-treated rats. The following variables were studied: body weight, serum levels of albumin, C-reactive protein and interleucine-6 (IL-6).

RESULTS

All animals lost weight between the beginning and the end of the experiment (280+ 16 mg versus 249+21 mg, p< 0.001). There was a significant decrease in the serum albumin between the normal pre-induction level (3.45 + 0.49 mg/dL) and the 1st day after colitis induction (1.61+051 mg/dL, p< 0.001) in all treated groups when compared to the control group. C- reactive protein increased after induction and diminished on the 7th day in all groups. In the control group there was an increase in the IL-6 after colitis induction. None of the treated groups significantly differed from IL-6 pre-colitis status (p>0.05). Only probiotic rats presented a significant decrease of IL-6 than controls (0,30+/-0,08 mg/dL vs. 0,19+/-0,03 mg/dL; p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Probiotics are effective to diminished inflammatory status mediated by IL-6 in experimental colitis.