EFFECT OF ACUTE PENTOXIFYLLINE TREATMENT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL OF COLITIS

Background: The effect of acute pentoxifylline treatment in an experim ental model of colitis was assessed using the trinitrobenzene sulphoni c acid (TNBS)-induced rat model of colitis. Methods: Animals were trea ted with intracolonic injection (250 mu L) of TNBS (50 mg in 50% ethan ol) to induce inflammation and ulcers. Animals received pentoxifilline (100 mg/kg intracolonically) or saline 24 and 48 h following TNBS tre atment, Five days following TNBS treatment, colons were dissected and scored according to the morphology damage score, The colons were then rolled longitudinally, fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. The collagen content of colonic sections was determined by a Sirius red-F ast green technique. Results: Animals treated with TNBS alone had sign ificantly higher gross morphology damage scores compared to animals tr eated with saline. Pentoxifylline significantly reduced the gross morp hology damage score in animals receiving TNBS, Colonic collagen levels were significantly elevated in TNBS-treated animals compared to anima ls receiving saline. Pentoxifylline treatment did not alter the collag en content of colons from TNBS-treated animals. Conclusion: TNBS treat ment significantly elevates morphology damage score compared to contro ls. The results also suggest that colonic collagen was significantly e levated in animals treated with TNBS compared to controls, Pentoxifyll ine treatment was not sufficient to reduce the elevation in colonic co llagen, although pentoxifylline treatment was sufficient to reduce the pathological changes due to TNBS, thus bringing the morphology damage score down to control levels.