EFFECT OF URSODEOXYCHOLIC ACID ON THE INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF INDOMETHACIN-INDUCED INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION IN RATS

The beneficial effects of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in primary bilia ry cirrhosis are supposed to be mediated in part by immunological mech anisms. In this study, we have tested whether ursodeoxycholic acid als o ameliorates intestinal inflammation induced by indomethacin in rats. Intestinal inflammation was induced in rats by two injections of indo methacin (7.5 mg/kg body weight) 24 h apart. To study its effects on a cute inflammation, UDCA (10 mg/kg body weight) was given for three day s starting with the first administration of indomethacin; for effects on chronic inflammation, UDCA nas given 24 h after the first indometha cin injection for eight days. Rats were sacrificed at days 3 and 9, re spectively. In acute inflammation a significant decrease of intestinal injury was observed with UDCA treatment (macroscopic score: 3.00 +/- 0.83 vs. 6.55 +/- 0.53 in controls; p < 0.01; microscopic score: 1.66 +/- 0.28 vs. 2.89 +/- 0.35 in controls; p < 0.05). In chronic inflamma tion the effects of UDCA treatment were less marked due to a general d ecline in intestinal injury. Nevertheless a significant decrease in th e macroscopic injury score (3.67 +/- 0.62 vs. 1.55 +/- 0.29 in UDCA tr eated rats; p < 0.01) was observed. Also, there was a significant incr ease in body weight of UDCA treated rats after nine days compared to c ontrols (28.8% vs. 16% increased body weight in controls; p < 0.01). T hus, ursodeoxycholic acid attenuates the severity of acute damage of s mall bowel and the development of chronic intestinal inflammation indu ced by indomethacin in rats.