Sucralfate enemas reduce the oxidative tissue damage and preserves the contents of E-cadherin and ?-catenin in colonic mucosa without fecal stream

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of sucralfate enemas in tissue contents of E-cadherin and ?-catenin in an experimental diversion colitis.

Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were submitted to a proximal colostomy and a distal mucous fistula. They were allocated into three groups: first group received daily saline enemas (2 mL/day) and the two other groups daily enemas with sucralfate at dosage of 1 or 2 g/kg/day, respectively. Six animals of each group were euthanized after two weeks and six animals after four weeks. The inflammation of the excluded mucosa was evaluated by histological analysis. The oxidative damage was quantified by measurement of malondialdehyde tissue levels. The expression of E-cadherin and ?-catenin was identified by immunohistochemistry, and its contents were quantified by computer-assisted image analysis.

Results: Sucralfate enemas reduced inflammation in animals subjected to treatment with 2 g/kg/day by four weeks, and the levels of oxidative damage in mucosa without fecal stream irrespective of concentration and time of intervention. E-cadherin and ?-catenin content increased in segments without fecal stream in those animals subjected to treatment with sucralfate.

Conclusions: Sucralfate reduces the inflammation and oxidative stress and increases the tissue content of E-cadherin and ?-catenin in colonic mucosa devoid to the fecal stream.

Figure 1. (a) Colonic mucosa without fecal stream subjected to treatment with saline for four weeks. (b) Colonic mucosa without fecal stream subjected to treatment with SCF (1 g/kg/day) for four weeks. (c) Colonic mucosa without fecal stream subjected to treatment with SCF (2 g/kg/day) for four weeks.

Figure 2. The inflammatory score of animals subjected to daily irrigation with saline, SCF 1 g/kg day and SCF 2 g/kg/day after two and four weeks of treatment. Mann-Whitney test.

Figure 3. (a) Immunostaining of E-cadherin in colonic epithelium without fecal stream subjected to treatment with saline for four weeks. (b) Immunostaining of E-cadherin in colonic epithelium without fecal stream subjected to treatment with SCF at concentration of 1 g/kg/day for four weeks. (c) Immunostaining of E-cadherin in colonic epithelium without fecal stream subjected to treatment with SCF at concentration of 1 g/kg/dayfor four weeks. (d) Immunostaining of β-catenin in colonic epithelium devoid of the fecal stream subjected to intervention with saline for four weeks. (e) Immunostaining of β-catenin in colonic mucosa without fecal stream subjected to treatment with SCF at concentration of 1 g/kg/day for four weeks. (f) Immunostaining of β-catenin in colonic mucosa without fecal stream exposed to SCF at concentration of 2 g/kg/day for four weeks (IH – x100).