The disturbance of oxidant-antioxidant balance in rat colonic mucosa after antibiotic therapy

Abstract

Antibiotic treatment increases susceptibility to development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) both in children and adults. Oxidative stress plays a prominent role in IBD pathogenesis. The aim of present study was to test an interrelationship between the morphological changes in rat colonic mucosa, the levels of antioxidant enzymes and redox sensitive transcription factors Egr-1 and Sp-1 after treatment with cephalosporin antibiotic ceftriaxone (Cf) with broad spectrum of action. Study was performed on male Wistar rats (180–230 g). Cf (50 mg/kg, i.m.) were injected daily for 5 days. The colonic levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase activity were measured by the colorimetric assays and zymography; levels of Egr-1 and Sp-1 – by Western-blot analysis; histological chan­ges – by morphometric analysis. Body weight and diarrhea were recorded. Systemic administration of the ceftriaxone induced morphological and functional changes in rat colonic mucosa associated with initial stages of the acute inflammation. These changes were accompanied by a decrease of activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Levels of redox-sensitive transcription factors Egr-1 and Sp1 were significantly increased, which shows a disturbance of homeostasis of the intestinal barrier.

Keywords

• ceftriaxone
• colon
• antioxidants
• transcription factors