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. 1998 Oct;43(4):512–518. doi: 10.1136/gut.43.4.512

Hyperbaric oxygen: a novel modality to ameliorate experimental colitis

D Rachmilewitz 1, F Karmeli 1, E Okon 1, I Rubenstein 1, O Better 1
PMCID: PMC1727276  PMID: 9824579

Abstract

Background—Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been suggested to be beneficial in inflammatory bowel disease but the mechanisms responsible for its therapeutic effects have not been elucidated. 
Aim—To assess the effect of HBO treatment on colonic damage in two models of experimental colitis, and to examine whether this effect is mediated by modulation of NO synthesis. 
Methods—Colitis was induced by either flushing the colon with 2 ml 5% acetic acid or intracolonic administration of 30 mg trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNB) dissolved in 0.25 ml 50% ethanol. Rats were exposed to HBO (100% oxygen at 2.4 atmosphere absolute) for one hour twice on the day of colitis induction and once daily thereafter. Control rats were treated only with acetic acid or TNB. Rats were killed 24 hours after acetic acid administration or one and seven days after TNB treatment. The colon was isolated, washed, and weighed, the lesion area was measured, and mucosal scrapings were processed for determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and NO synthase (NOS) activities, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) generation. 
Results—In control rats exposed for seven days to HBO, colonic NOS activity was significantly decreased by 61%, compared with its activity in untreated rats (2.93 (0.17) nmol/g/min). HBO significantly reduced by 51 and 62% the extent of injury induced by acetic acid and TNB respectively. The protection provided by HBO was accompanied by a significant decrease in colonic weight, PGE2 generation, MPO, and NOS activities. In acetic acid colitis, LTB4 generation was also significantly decreased. 
Conclusions—(1) HBO effectively decreases colitis induced by acetic acid and TNB. (2) The decreased NOS activity induced by HBO suggests that reduction in NO generation may be among the mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of HBO. (3) HBO may be considered in the treatment of patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease. 



Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen; acetic acid colitis; trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid colitis; inflammatory bowel disease

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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Effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on colonic lesion area and weight in acetic acid treated rats. Colitis was induced by injection of 2.0 ml 5% acetic acid into the proximal colon. One group of rats was exposed twice for one hour to HBO (100% oxygen at 2.4 ATA). Rats were killed after 24 hours. The colon was isolated and weighed and the lesion area measured. Results are mean (SEM) for 8-16 rats in each group. *Significantly different from acetic acid only (p<0.05). 


Figure 2 .

Figure 2

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Histological section of the colon isolated from rats treated with acetic acid and hyperbaric oxygen. (A) Small mucosal ulcerations can be seen with an acute mild inflammatory cell infiltrate involving the upper third to one half of the mucosal thickness. Haematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification × 187. (B) Wide mucosal ulceration can be seen with an extensive inflammatory cell infiltrate involving all layers of the intestinal wall. Haematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification × 71. 


Figure 3 .

Figure 3

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Effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on colonic lesion area (A) and weight (B) in rats treated with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNB). Colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of TNB. Rats were treated for one hour with HBO (100% oxygen at 2.4 ATA) twice daily in the first 24 hours and once daily thereafter. They were killed after one or seven days. The distal 10 cm of the colon was isolated and weighed and the lesion area measured. Results are mean (SEM) for 8-12 rats in each group. *Significantly different from TNB alone (p<0.05). 


Figure 4 .

Figure 4

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Histological section of the colon isolated 24 hours after intracolonic treatment with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid and exposure to hyperbaric oxygen. (A) A small superficial ulcer can be seen involving only the mucosa and accompanied by a very mild acute inflammatory cell infiltrate. Haematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification × 71. (B) Wide and extensive mucosal ulcers are evident. Haematoxylin and eosin staining; original magnification × 71. 


Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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