Effects of dopaminergic drugs on inflammatory bowel disease induced with 2,4-dinitrofluorbenzene in BALB/c mice

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the effects of dopaminergic drugs o n 2,4-dinitrofluorbenzene (DNFB) induced experimental inflammatory bowel di sease (IBD) in previously sensitized BALB/c mice. The number and extent of ulcerations and erosions, the intensity of haemorrhages, oedema, and accumu lation of neutrophils and eosinophils within colonic lamina propria and sub mucosa were scored and statistically evaluated. The 180 BALB/c mice, were a llocated into three equal groups. The mice in the first experimental group were treated with domperidone (DP), a peripheral dopamine (DA) antagonist. The mice from the second experimental group were treated with bromocriptine (BC), a dopamine agonist. The mice from the control group were treated wit h an equivalent volume of normal saline in the same manner. Ten animals fro m each group were killed on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10, subsequent to the chall enge enema of DNFB solution. Gross and microscopic examination of the colon was performed. Treatment with BC resulted in clinical improvement and decr eased mortality rate by 2 of 60 (3%), while domperidone treatment increased mortality rate to 12 of 60 (20%) compared with the controls [4 of 60 (6%)] . The analysis of the microscopic lesions indicated that the beneficial eff ects of BC were the result of maintenance of vascular integrity.