A. Rychlik

The effectiveness of natural and synthetic immunomodulators in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of immunomodulators in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs. Twenty-eight dogs diagnosed with IBD took part in the study. The animals received a food containing extruded immunomodulators: β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan, β-hydroxy-β-methyl-butyrate (HMB) and levamisole for 42 days. Whole blood samples were analysed before and after therapy assessing changes in phagocyte activity (respiratory burst activity, RBA and potential killing activity, PKA), evaluation of proliferation response of mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes and serum gamma globulin levels, lysozyme activity, ceruloplasmin levels and interleukin activity (IL-6 and IL-10). In this experiment, β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan delivered the highest level of treatment efficacy by producing the quickest therapeutic effect, lowering Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) values to below 3, improving histopathological parameters, decreasing IL-6 levels, increasing IL-10 concentrations, and producing remission periods longer than six months. HMB and levamisole were also effective in lowering CIBDAI scores, but the abatement of clinical symptoms was slower and less pronounced in comparison with β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan. The results indicate that β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan can be useful in the treatment of canine IBD.

Effects of inflammation and axotomy on expression of acetylcholine transferase and nitric oxide synthetase within the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript-immunoreactive neurons of the porcine descending colon.

This study reports changes in expression of acetylcholine transferase (AChT) and nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) in neurons immunoreactive for cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides during chemically-driven inflammation and axotomy in the porcine descending colon. The co-localization of the neurotransmitters with CART was studied by double immunofluorescence in the myenteric plexus (MP) and outer submucosal plexus (OSP) of the porcine descending colon under physiological and selected pathological conditions. In control animals, neurons expressing CART also expressed AChT in 25.37 ± 0.98% and 26.73 ± 0.96% in the MP and OSP, respectively. Neuronal co-expression of CART with NOS occurred in 90.66 ± 2.13% and 88.09 ± 2.96% in the MP and OSP, respectively. Following axotomy the number of neurons co-expressing CART and AChT decreased to 16.50 ± 3.20% in the MP and increased to 35.49 ± 2.04% in the OSP, while the number of neurons co-expressing CART and NOS increased to 96.66 ± 2.38% in the MP and 97.46 ± 2.22% in the OSP. Experimentally-induced colitis resulted in an increase in the number of neurons co-expressing CART and AChT to 42.40 ± 2.28% in the MP and 63.62 ± 1.83% in the OSP. Similarly, in these animals the number of neurons co-expressing CART and NOS increased to 93.9 ± 2.58% in the MP and 90.43 ± 2.09% in the OSP. Sham-operated controls showed expression levels of 26.22 ± 0.66% (MP) and 27.02 ± 1.73% (OSP) for simultaneous CART and AChT expression and 94.18 ± 0.93% (MP) and 88.21 ± 0.81% (OSP) for CART and NOS co-localization. These data confirm that the examined neurotransmitters have a role in traumatic and inflammatory responses of enteric neurons.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-27 – like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the mucosal layer of canine gastrointestinal tract in physiology and during inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Changes in the density of mucosal pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide-27 -like immunoreactive (PACAP-27 - LI) nerve fibers within various parts of the canine gastrointestinal (GI) tract during inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were investigated. The distribution of nerves were studied, using a single-labelling immunofluorescence technique, in the mucosal layer of canine stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and descending colon. Canine IBD caused an increase in the density of PACAP- 27-LI mucosal nerves in all studied parts of GI tract. The results suggest that PACAP in the nervous system may be involved in pathological processes during IBD.

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript immunoreactive nerve fibres in the mucosal layer of the canine gastrointestinal tract under physiological conditions and in inflammatory bowel disease.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the density of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) immunoreactive nerve fibres in the mucosa of different sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Fibre density was analysed in mucosal specimens from the duodenum, jejunum and descending colon of healthy dogs and patients with inflammatory bowel disease of varying intensity. Nervous fibres were stained in single-cell immunofluorescence assays. The density of CART- immunoreactive fibres was determined using a semi-quantitative approach by counting the number of fibres in the field of view (0.1 mm 2 ). An increase in the density of CART-immunoreactive fibres was observed in dogs with moderate and severe IBD in comparison with healthy subjects. The results suggest that the presence of CART in enteric nerve fibres could play a role in the pathogenesis and development of canine IBD.

Clinical, endoscopic and histopathological evaluation of the efficacy of budesonide in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs.

This study evaluates the efficacy of budesonide in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs based on the results of clinical, endoscopic and histopathological examinations. The severity of clinical symptoms was assessed based on CIBDAI scores, and macroscopic and histopathological changes were described in accordance with the recommendations of the WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group for 2008. The results of the experiment revealed that budesonide does not offer effective treatment for canine IBD. The tested drug failed to alleviate the clinical symptoms of disease, lower CIBDAI scores, or improve the macroscopic appearance of intestinal mucosa. The effectiveness of budesonide was most highly evaluated in the histopathological picture of duodenal, jejunal and colonic mucosa.

Galanin - Immunoreactive Nerve Fibers in the Mucosal Layer of the Canine Gastrointestinal Tract During Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract The effect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the density of galanin - immunoreactive (GAL-IR) nerve fibers was determined in the mucosa of canine duodenum, jejunum, and descending colon. Fiber density was evaluated by a single immunofluorescence method in biopsy specimens obtained from healthy dogs and patients with variable severity of the disease. The density of GAL-IR nerve fibers was determined by the semi-quantitative method by counting fibers in the field of view (0.l mm2). Fiber density was higher in dogs with moderate and severe IBD than in healthy animals. The results of the study suggest that GAL present in intestinal nerve fibers could play a role in the pathogenesis and development of canine IBD.