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. 1997 Sep;41(3):354–357. doi: 10.1136/gut.41.3.354

Photochemically induced colonic ischaemic lesions: a new model of ischaemic colitis in rats

Y Yano 1, H Yao 1, K Aoyagi 1, K Kawakubo 1, S Nakamura 1, K Doi 1, S Ibayashi 1, M Fujishima 1
PMCID: PMC1891495  PMID: 9378391

Abstract

Background—Recent clinical studies suggest that ischaemic colitis is caused by a microcirculatory disturbance that involves thrombosis of the colon. 
Aim—To establish a new model of photochemically induced ischaemic colitis in rats. 
Methods—Thirty male Wistar rats were anaesthetised with amobarbital, the femoral veins were cannulated and laparotomies were performed. The serosal surface of the proximal colon was irradiated by using a krypton laser (wavelength 568 nm, 20 mW) for four minutes. An intravenous infusion of a photosensitising dye, rose bengal (20 mg/kg body weight), was administered over 90 seconds, beginning at the start of irradiation. Rats were killed immediately (n=4), 12 hours (n=2), 24 hours (n=10), three days (n=4), seven days (n=4), 14 days (n=2), or 28 days (n=2) after irradiation. Two control rats received laser irradiation without dye infusion. Specimens of the irradiated sites were examined by using histopathology. 
Results—Localised ulcers of the colon were present in rats killed at 12 hours, 24 hours, three days, and seven days after irradiation. Microscopy findings were consistent with the features of human ischaemic colitis. Reproducible ulcerative lesions were produced by photothrombosis of microvessels in the colon. 
Conclusion—This model may be useful for further investigation of the pathophysiology of ischaemic colitis. 



Keywords: ischaemic colitis; photothrombosis; rose bengal

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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: Macroscopic findings showing a colonic intraluminal lesion in a laser-irradiated rat at 24 hours. Localised shallow open ulcers with irregular margins are evident. 


Figure 2 .

Figure 2

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: Histological findings of a photochemically induced ulcer of the colon. The ulcer was restricted to the mucosa or submucosa, which showed fresh mucosal haemorrhage, degeneration and necrosis of the glandular epithelium with a "ghost-like" appearance, and notable submucosal thickening caused by prominent oedema, associated with congestion and neutrophilic infiltration. 


Figure 3 .

Figure 3

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: Microscopic findings of an ulcer in the laser-irradiated colon of a rat. The microvessel of the submucosal layer was filled with photochemically induced thrombi. 


Figure 4 .

Figure 4

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: The photothrombi were not stained by PTAH, indicating the absence of a fibrin component. 


Selected References

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

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