Effects of nimesulide on the small intestine mucositis induced by methotrexate in rats

Abstract

Intestinal mucositis is one of the major problems in the patients receiving cancer treatment. Nimesulide is a drug with antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antiulcer features. We aimed to investigate the effect of nimesulide on the small intestine mucositis induced by methotrexate (MTX) in rats. Experimental animals were divided into the control group, MTX group (MTXG) and nimesulide+MTX administered group (NMTXG) with eight rats per group. The control and MTXG groups were given distilled water by gavage and the NMTXG was given nimesulide 100 mg/kg orally. After one hour, the NMTXG and MTXG rat groups were administered oral MTX 5 mg/kg. This procedure was repeated once a day for 15 days and the rats were sacrificed. The duodenum and jejunum of each rat was removed for the assessment of biochemical markers and histopathological evaluation. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels were significantly higher in the duodenal and jejunal tissues of the animals which received MTX, compared to the control and NMTXG (P<0.001). Also, the levels of total glutathione (tGSH), glutathione reductase (GSHRd), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly lower in the MTXG (P<0.001) compared to other groups. MTX led to villus and crypt epithelial damage and inflammation containing marked PMNL and eosinophils in the intestinal tissues histopathologically. Whereas, there was only mild irregularities in the villus structures of the NMTXG. Nimesulide protected the small intestines against damage by MTX. Intestinal mucositis caused by MTX may be preventable by co-administered nimesulide.

Fig. 1.

The effects of nimesulide on MDA and MPO levels in the duodenum and jejunum tissues of rats given methotrexate. Bars are mean ± SD. The NMTXG is compared with the MTXG and control groups. **: P<0.001.

Fig. 2.

The effects of nimesulide on tGSH levels in the duodenum and jejunum tissues of rats given methotrexate. Bars are mean ± SD. The NMTXG is compared with the MTXG and control groups. **: P<0.001.

Fig. 3.

The effects of nimesulide on GSHPx levels in the duodenum and jejunum tissues of rats given methotrexate. Bars are mean ± SD. The NMTXG is compared with the MTXG and control groups. **: P<0.001.

Fig. 4.

The effects of nimesulide on GSHRd levels in the duodenum and jejunum tissues of rats given methotrexate. Bars are mean ± SD. The NMTXG is compared with the MTXG and control groups. **: P<0.001.

Fig. 5.

The effects of nimesulide on CAT levels in the duodenum and jejunum tissues of rats given methotrexate. Bars are mean ± SD. The NMTXG is compared with the MTXG and control groups. **: P<0.001.

Fig. 6.

The effects of nimesulide on SOD levels in the duodenum and jejunum tissues of rats given methotrexate. Bars are mean ± SD. The NMTXG is compared with MTXG and control groups. **: P<0.001.

Fig. 7.

Sections of the duodenum (a–d) and jejunum tissue (e–h). (a) Normal duodenal tissue of the control group, (b) Surface villus epithelial damage (line arrow), mucosal crypt damage (straight arrow), mixed inflammatory cell infiltration containing PMNL (circle arrow), and dilated congested capillaries (square arrow) of the MTXG, (c) mixed inflammatory cell infiltration containing PMNL and eosinophils of the MTXG, (d) Mild irregularities in the villus structures (circle arrow) and localized areas which contains dilated congested capillaries (square arrow) of the NMTXG, (e) Normal jejunal tissue of the control group, (f) Near-total necrosis in villus structures (line arrow), mixed inflammatory cell infiltration containing PMNL (square arrow), mucosal crypt damage (circle arrow), surface epithelial and villus damage (long straight arrow), and dilated congested capillaries (short straight arrow) of the MTXG, (g) mixed inflammatory cell infiltration containing PMNL and eosinophils of the MTXG, (h) Mild irregularities in the villus structures (line arrow) and localized areas which contains dilated congested capillaries (square arrow) of the NMTXG. HE. Original magnification. a,b,d,e,f,h ×100; c,g ×400.