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

Abstract

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 + 0.49mg/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: Probiotic associated with budesonida Probiotics are effective to diminished inflammatory status mediated by IL-6 in experimental colitis.