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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2008; 14(8): 1222-1230
Published online Feb 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1222
Ameliorative effects of bombesin and neurotensin on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis, oxidative damage and apoptosis in rats
Alper Akcan, Sebahattin Muhtaroglu, Hulya Akgun, Hizir Akyildiz, Can Kucuk, Erdogan Sozuer, Alper Yurci, Namik Yilmaz
Alper Akcan, Hizir Akyildiz, Can Kucuk, Erdogan Sozuer, Namik Yilmaz, Department of General Surgery, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Sebahattin Muhtaroglu, Department of Biochemistry, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Hulya Akgun, Department of Pathology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Alper Yurci, Department of Gastroenterology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri 38039, Turkey
Author contributions: Akcan A, Akyildiz H, and Sozuer E designed the research; Akcan A, Akgun H, Kucuk C, Yurci A, and Yilmaz N performed the research; Muhtaroglu S performed laboratory analysis; Akgun H performed pathological analysis; Akcan A, Kucuk C and Muhtaroglu S analyzed the data; Akcan A and Akyildiz H wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Alper Akcan, MD, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Kayseri 38039, Turkey. acakcan2002@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-533-7430357
Fax: +90-352-4375273
Received: September 5, 2007
Revised: December 9, 2007
Published online: February 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effects of bombesin (BBS) and neurotensin (NTS) on apoptosis and colitis in an ulcerative colitis model.

METHODS: In this study, a total of 50 rats were divided equally into 5 groups. In the control group, no colitis induction or drug administration was performed. Colitis was induced in all other groups. Following the induction of colitis, BBS, NTS or both were applied to three groups of rats. The remaining group (colitis group) received no treatment. On the 11th d after induction of colitis and drug treatment, blood samples were collected for TNF-α and IL-6 level studies. Malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and caspase-3 activities, as well as histopathological findings, evaluated in colonic tissues.

RESULTS: According to the macroscopic and microscopic findings, the study groups treated with BBS, NTS and BBS + NTS showed significantly lower damage and inflammation compared with the colitis group (macroscopic score, 2.1 ± 0.87, 3.7 ± 0.94 and 2.1 ± 0.87 vs 7.3 ± 0.94; microscopic score, 2.0 ± 0.66, 3.3 ± 0.82 and 1.8 ± 0.63 vs 5.2 ± 0.78, P < 0.01). TNF-α and IL-6 levels were increased significantly in all groups compared with the control group. These increases were significantly smaller in the BBS, NTS and BBS + NTS groups compared with the colitis group (TNF-α levels, 169.69 ± 53.56, 245.86 ± 64.85 and 175.54 ± 42.19 vs 556.44 ± 49.82; IL-6 levels, 443.30 ± 53.99, 612.80 ± 70.39 and 396.80 ± 78.43 vs 1505.90 ± 222.23, P < 0.05). The colonic MPO and MDA levels were significantly lower in control, BBS, NTS and BBS + NTS groups than in the colitis group (MPO levels, 24.36 ± 8.10, 40.51 ± 8.67 and 25.83 ± 6.43 vs 161.47 ± 38.24; MDA levels, 4.70 ± 1.41, 6.55 ± 1.12 and 4.51 ± 0.54 vs 15.60 ± 1.88, P < 0.05). Carbonyl content and caspase-3 levels were higher in the colitis and NTS groups than in control, BBS and BBS + NTS groups (carbonyl levels, 553.99 ± 59.58 and 336.26 ± 35.72 vs 209.76 ± 30.92, 219.76 ± 25.77 and 220.34 ± 36.95; caspase-3 levels, 451.70 ± 68.27 and 216.20 ± 28.17 vs 28.60 ± 6.46, 170.50 ± 32.37 and 166.50 ± 30.95, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest BBS and NTS, through their anti-inflammatory actions, support the maintenance of colonic integrity and merit consideration as potential agents for ameliorating colonic inflammation.

Keywords: Bombesin; Neurotensin; Colitis; Apoptosis