Inhibition of butyric acid-induced colitis in mice by 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2

A standard colitic lesion was induced in male BKA mice by intrarectal administration of butyric acid (7.5%, 0.1 ml, 10 sec contact). Animals were killed after 5 h and the ‘colitic score’, increase in colonic tissue water (‘oedema’) and colonic tissue content of myeloperoxidase (MPO, a marker for neutrophils) were determined. Drug was administered intrarectally in 0.2 ml saline 20 min before colitis induction. In colitic animals given vehicle alone, all these parameters increased (P<0.05) compared to the non-colitic controls. In colitic animals given 16,16-dimethyl PGE₂ (0.2–20000 μg/kg), colitic score was reduced (P<0.05) at all dose levels when compared with vehicle-treated colitic animals. The oedema and MPO showed a dose-related reduction (r=−0.895 and −0.904 respectively). In mouse colon 16,16-dimethyl PGE₂ showed a protective action against butyric acid-induced colitic damage.