THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF BECLOMETHASONE DIP ROPIONATE ENEMAS ON COLON DAMAGE OF INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE MODEL RATS

The effects of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) enemas on ulcerative colitis were investigated by administrating BDP enemas to Fischer male rats with an inflammatory bowel disease induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenz ensulfonic acid (TNB). After administration of a TNB ethanol solution to rats, diarrhea and melena were found in all rats, and the wet tissu e weights of the colons in the rats increased by erosion and thickness of epithelial mucous membranes with edema. BDP enemas were administer ed to the rats one time a day at a dose of 20 or 50 mu g of BDP for 4 or 11 days from the day 3 after TNB treatment, respectively. After dos ing of BDP, the rate of rats developing diarrhea and melena decreased more with time in comparison with that of BDP-free rats, and the sympt oms of all rats developing the diseases were improved on the day 4 aft er administration of a dose of 50 mu g of BDP. A dose dependent recove ry in the wet tissue weights and scores of damages, and the myeloperox idase (MPO) activity in the tissue were found at the early days (until the day 4). However, their measurements on the day 11 at each dose of BDP were not different from those of control rats significantly, as t he damages in the colons of the control rats were recovered naturally with time. In conclusion, the clinical usefulness of BDP enemas was su pported by elucidating the dose dependent effect of BDP at the early d ays in the model rats with an inflammatory bowel disease induced by TN B.