Effects of octreotide and propranolol on colonic mucosa in rats with portal hypertensive colopathy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study is to clarify the effects of octreotide and propranolol, agents used in the treatment of portal hypertension, on mucosal changes in portal hypertensive colopathy. METHODOLOGY: Portal hypertension was induced in all rats by partial portal vein ligation, and after the operation all rats were caged for a 10-week period. Then, animals were divided into three groups and for two weeks medical treatment were administered to the individual groups as follows: Control group, saline 0.5 mL/day, intraperitoneally. Octreotide group, octreotide 100 micrograms/kg/12 hours, subcutaneously. Propranolol group, propranolol 20 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally. In order to assess the portal hypertensive colopathy, criteria such as mean diameters of dilated vessels in colonic mucosa, and the existence of mucosal edema, capillary ectasia, hyperemia and hemorrhage, inflammation were used. RESULTS: When parameters were compared for the control versus propranolol groups, mucosal edema and hyperemia and hemorrhage criteria were found to be significant for the propranolol group; control versus octreotide groups, mucosal edema, capillary ectasia, and hyperemia and hemorrhage criteria were found to be significant for the octreotide group; octreotide versus propranolol groups, capillary ectasia and mucosal edema criteria were found to be significant for the octreotide group. CONCLUSIONS: The mucosal changes in portal hypertensive colopathy could be corrected by drugs modifying portal blood flow, octreotide may find a place in the treatment of portal hypertensive colopathy.