Objective: To investigate the effect of milk and milk products on morphological structure and epidermal growth factor (EGF) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induced small intestinal damage in animals.
Methods: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, diclofenac group, diclofenac with 10% low fat milk group, diclofenac with 10% colostrum group and diclofenac with yoghurt group. The animals with milk or colostrum or yoghurt were fed for 5 days before the administration of diclofenac with 15 mg/kg by gavage, once. Then they were observed the scores of anatomical lesion and the scores of tissue damage of mucous membrane and the height of villous at the 24(th) and 48(th) hour after making the models. Observation of the change of ultrastructural organization of mucous membrane was carried out with transmission and scanning electron microscope and immunohistochemistry of EGF.
Results: The scores of anatomical lesion and tissue damage of mucous membrane of the colostrum group were lower than those of the diclofenac group (P < 0.05). The heights of the pile on small intestine of the 24(th) and 48(th)hour of the colostrum group were (145.7 ± 16.5) µm and (139.2 ± 19.0) µm, respectively. They were higher than those of the diclofenac group [(119.2 ± 19.2) µm and (105.4 ± 18.4) µm, P < 0.05]. However there was no difference of the scores and the height among diclofenac group, milk group and yoghurt group. TEM and SEM of tissues showed that the cytoplasmic membrane and other cellular components of villous epithelial cells were well preserved in colostrum group, and the microvilli in the milk group and yoghurt group were ablated more obviously. The positive area of EGF of small intestine [(6170.5 ± 1483.9) µm(2)] were higher 48 h after administration of diclofenac compared with the diclofenac group (P < 0.05). The expression of EGF in milk and yoghurt group were no significant statistical difference with the diclofenac group.
Conclusion: Bovine colostrum may have a beneficial effect in prevention of NSAIDs induced small intestinal injuries and preserve mechanical barrier of small intestinal mucosa which is probably relative to EGF.