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 less than 0.05) compared to the non-colitic controls. In colitic animals given 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (0.2-20000 micrograms/kg), colitic score was reduced (P less than 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.