Magnetic resonance colonography assessment of acute trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid colitis in pre-pubertal rats

PLoS One. 2021 Nov 4;16(11):e0259135. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259135. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Pre-pubertal murine models of acute colitis are lacking. Magnetic resonance colonography (MRC) is a promising minimally invasive tool to assess colitis. We aimed to: 1/ Adapt a model of acute experimental colitis to pre-pubertal rats and determine whether MRC characteristics correlate with histological inflammation. 2/ Test this model by administering a diet supplemented in transforming growth factor β2 to reverse inflammation. Twenty-four rats were randomized at weaning to one of 3 groups: Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (TNBS) group (n = 8) fed a standard diet, that received an intra-rectal 60 mg/kg dose of TNBS-ethanol; Control group (n = 8) fed standard diet, that received a dose of intra-rectal PBS; TNBS+MODULEN group (n = 8) that received a dose of TNBS and were exclusively fed MODULEN-IBD® after induction of colitis. One week after induction of colitis, rats were assessed by MRC, colon histopathology and inflammation markers (Interleukin 1β, Tumor necrosis factor α, Nitric Oxide Synthase 2 and Cyclooxygenase 2). TNBS induced typical features of acute colitis on histopathology and MRC (increased colon wall thickness, increased colon intensity on T2-weighted images, target sign, ulcers). Treatment with MODULEN-IBD® did not reduce signs of colitis on MRC. Inflammatory marker expression did not differ among study groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid / adverse effects*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the European Union and Normandy Regional Council. Europe contributes to Normandy through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). One of the authors (MP) received a grant from Nestlé Health Science given by SFNCM (Société Francophone Nutrition Clinique et Métabolisme). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.