alcian-blue and Colitis--Ulcerative

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease with characteristic inflammation to mucosal cells in rectum and colon leading to lesions in mucosa and submucosa. Moreover, crocin is a carotenoid compound among active constituents of saffron with many pharmacological effects as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Therefore, we aimed to investigate therapeutic effects of crocin against UC through affecting the inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. For induction of UC in rats, intracolonic 2 ml of 4% acetic acid was used. After induction of UC, part of rats was treated with 20 mg/kg crocin. cAMP was measured using ELISA. Moreover, we measured gene and protein expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), BCL2-associated X (BAX), caspase-3/8/9, NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β/4/6/10. Colon sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Alcian blue or immune-stained with anti-TNF-α antibodies. Microscopic images of colon sections in UC group revealed destruction of intestinal glands associated with infiltration of inflammatory cell and severe hemorrhage. While images stained with Alcian blue showed damaged and almost absent intestinal glands. Crocin treatment ameliorated morphological changes. Finally, crocin significantly reduced expression levels of BAX, caspase-3/8/9, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, associated with increased levels of cAMP and expression of BCL2, IL-4 and IL-10. In conclusion, protective of action of crocin in UC is proved by restoration of normal weight and length of colon as well as improvement of morphological structure of colon cells. The mechanism of action of crocin in UC is indicated by activation of anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Apoptosis; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Carotenoids; Caspase 3; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colon; Disease Models, Animal; Inflammation; NF-kappa B; Rats; Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease. Fucoidan, sulfated polysaccharide of brown seaweed, demonstrates various pharmacological actions as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-bacterial effects. Therefore, we opt to investigate the potential curative effects of fucoidan in experimentally induced UC in rats through modulating aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1).. UC was induced in rats using intracolonic 2 ml of 4% acetic acid. Some rats were treated with 150 mg/kg fucoidan. Samples of colon were used to investigate gene and protein expression of AhR, PDE4, Nrf2, HO-1 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Sections of colon were stained with hematoxylin/eosin, Alcian blue or immune-stained with anti-PDE4 antibodies.. Investigation of hematoxylin/eosin stained micro-images of UC rats revealed damaged intestinal glands, severe hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration, while sections stained with Alcian Blue revealed damaged and almost absent intestinal glands. UC results in elevated gene and protein expression of PDE4 associated with reduced gene and protein expression of AhR, IL-22, cAMP, Nrf2 and HO-1. Finally, UC increased the oxidative stress and reduced antioxidant activity in colon tissues. All morphological changes as well as gene and protein expressions were ameliorated by fucoidan.. Fucoidan could treat UC induced in rats. It restored the normal weight and length of colon associated with morphological improvement as found by examining sections stained with hematoxylin/eosin and Alcian Blue. The curative effects could be explained by enhancing antioxidant activity, reducing the expression of PDE4 and increasing the expression of AhR, IL-22 and cAMP.

Topics: Acetic Acid; Alcian Blue; Animals; Antioxidants; Colitis, Ulcerative; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Hematoxylin; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Polysaccharides; Rats; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon

We have developed a new method that is applicable for a macroscopic and objective evaluation of erosion in the large intestine in the experimental ulcerative colitis model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in rats. The large intestine (without cecum) fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for more than one week was opened and stained with 1% alcian blue solution. The mucosal surface was stained in light and shade-blue. Histopathological examination revealed that the dark blue area on the mucosal surface had no epithelia and that the connective tissues in the lamina propria were stained with alcian blue. Salazosulfapyridine at 15 and 50 mg/kg twice a day inhibited the erosion area (dark blue area) by 29.6% and 50.2%, respectively. Also, prednisolone at 0.5 mg/kg, twice a day inhibited the erosion by 53.3%. Thus, by measuring the dark blue area stained with 1% alcian blue solution, we could estimate macroscopically and objectively the area of erosions. This method seems to be a useful index for assessing the damages produced in the experimental ulcerative colitis model in rats.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Animals; Colitis, Ulcerative; Dextran Sulfate; Disease Models, Animal; Intestinal Mucosa; Prednisolone; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Staining and Labeling; Sulfasalazine

In a preliminary study, we assessed 10 lectins for the identification of dysplasia in colectomy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding was found in all cases of dysplasia. In the main study the relationship between PNA staining, high iron-diamine/alcian blue (HID-AB) histochemistry, and dysplasia was investigated in 115 pre-operative colonoscopic biopsies and the subsequent resection specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis complicated by carcinoma (n = 6) and patients undergoing proctocolectomy for failure of medical management (n = 8). Peanut lectin was of no value in the assessment of pre-malignant changes or cancer risk. However, the HID-AB stain appears to clarify the interpretation of less severe pre-malignant changes and may be usefully applied to the interpretation of colonoscopic biopsies for cancer surveillance in ulcerative colitis.

Topics: Alcian Blue; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colonic Neoplasms; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Lectins; Mucins; Peanut Agglutinin; Risk