Original Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2012; 18(20): 2481-2492
Published online May 28, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i20.2481
Key factors in developing the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome model in rats
Hong-Yan Qin, Hai-Tao Xiao, Justin CY Wu, Brian M Berman, Joseph JY Sung, Zhao-Xiang Bian
Hong-Yan Qin, Hai-Tao Xiao, Zhao-Xiang Bian, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China
Justin CY Wu, Joseph JY Sung, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Brian M Berman, Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
Author contributions: Qin HY performed the majority of experiments and data analysis, and wrote the manuscript; Xiao HT participated in the animal experiments; Wu JCY participated in data analysis; Berman BM participated in experimental design and reviewing of the manuscript; Sung JJY participated in the critical review of the manuscript; Bian ZX participated in the conception, experimental design and critical review and writing of the manuscript.
Supported by Hong Kong Jockey Club Institute of Chinese Medicine, No. JCICM-4-07
Correspondence to: Zhao-Xiang Bian, Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China. bzxiang@hkbu.edu.hk
Telephone: +852-34112905  Fax: +852-34112929
Received: October 22, 2011
Revised: December 15, 2011
Accepted: December 22, 2011
Published online: May 28, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the key factors in developing the trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) model in rats.

METHODS: TNBS was administered to rats at the following conditions: (1) with different doses (20, 10, 5 mg/0.8 mL per rat); (2) with same dose in different concentrations (20 mg/rat, 25, 50 mg/mL); (3) in different ethanol percentage (25%, 50%); and (4) at depth either 4 cm or 8 cm from anus. At 5 d and 4 wk after TNBS administration, inflammation severity and inflammation resolution were evaluated. At 4 and 8 wk after TNBS application, visceral hyperalgesia and enterochromaffin (EC) cell hyperplasia were assayed by abdominal withdrawal reflex test, silver staining and capillary electrophoresis.

RESULTS: Our results showed that: (1) TNBS induced dose-dependent acute inflammation and inflammation resolution. At 5 d post TNBS, the pathological score and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in all TNBS treated rats were significantly elevated compared to that of the control (9.48 ± 1.86, 8.18 ± 0.67, 5.78 ± 0.77 vs 0, and 3.55 ± 1.11, 1.80 ± 0.82, 0.97 ± 0.08 unit/mg vs 0.14 ± 0.01 unit/mg, P < 0.05). At 4 wk post TNBS, the pathological score in high and median dose TNBS-treated rats were still significantly higher than that of the control (1.52 ± 0.38 and 0.80 ± 0.35 vs 0, P < 0.05); (2) Intracolonic TNBS administration position affected the persistence of visceral hyperalgesia. At 4 wk post TNBS, abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) threshold pressure in all TNBS-treated groups were decreased compared to that of the control (21.52 ± 1.73 and 27.10 ± 1.94 mmHg vs 34.44 ± 1.89 mmHg, P < 0.05). At 8 wk post TNBS, AWR threshold pressure in 8 cm administration group was still significantly decreased (23.33 ± 1.33 mmHg vs 36.79 ± 2.29 mmHg, P < 0.05); (3) Ethanol percentage affected the TNBS-induced inflammation severity and visceral hyperalgesia. In TNBS-25% ethanol-treated group, the pathological score and MPO activity were significantly lowered compared to that of the TNBS-50% ethanol-treated group, while AWR threshold pressure were significantly elevated (36.33 ± 0.61 mmHg vs 23.33 ± 1.33 mmHg, P < 0.05); and (4) TNBS (5 mg/0.8 mL per rat, in 50% ethanol, 8 cm from anus)-treated rats recovered completely from the inflammation with acquired visceral hyperalgesia and EC cell hyperplasia at 4 wk after TNBS administration.

CONCLUSION: TNBS dosage, concentration, intracolonic administration position, and ethanol percentage play important roles in developing visceral hyperalgesia and EC cell hyperplasia of TNBS-induced PI-IBS rats.

Keywords: Post-inflammatory, Irritable bowel syndrome, Rat model, Trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, Key factors