Effects of Sennosides and Nonanthranoid Laxatives on Cytochemistry of Epithelial Cells in Rat Colon

Abstract

The cytochemical effects of laxatives on rat colonic epithelial cells were studied. A total of 32 rats was divided into four groups. Three groups were treated with bisacodyl, picosulfate and sennosides for 12 weeks, and a fourth group served as control. The rectum, midcolon and cecum were studied for acidic mucins, lectin soybean agglutinin (SBA) and cytokeratin AE1. Most striking and consistent changes were found in the rectum including total acidic mucin content which significantly increased, with sulfomucin decreased and sialomucin increased in the three treatment groups. Cytokeratin AE1 expression increased on picosulfate and sennosides. SBA total binding increased on bisacodyl and picosulfate. The present findings were thought to be of functional origin and do not represent early precancerous lesions.

Is Senna Laxative Use Associated to Cathartic Colon, Genotoxicity, or Carcinogenicity?

“…An increase in the expression of cytokeratin AE1 was also exhibited. The results were interpreted as being of functional origin, and the association to early precancerous lesions was discarded [25]. …”

Solubility of Bisacodyl in Pure Solvent at Various Temperatures: Data Correlation and Thermodynamic Property Analysis

“…It acts locally in the large intestine, increases the intestinal movement, decreases the intestinal transit time, and increases the watery feces portion. It is used for many years as the first-line laxative around the world, and clinical experience suggests that this drug can be very effective in treating constipation. − Recently, U.S. Patent 1412430 reported that bisacodyl and its analogs have precisely this novel and major property of affecting the viability of quiescent cancer stem cells. This discovery will directly expand the application of bisacodyl in the field of medicine…”

Commonly used bowel preparations have significant and different effects upon cell proliferation in the colon: a pilot study

“…Another study attributing FAC and aphthoid ulcers to NaP found no lesions in a subset of patients subsequently re-examined without preparation[ 9 ]. Sodium picosulfate, the active constituent of Picolax, has been shown to increase the expression of acidic mucin and cytokeratin AE1 in rat colonocytes[ 10 ]. The effects of PEG on the morphology of the colonic mucosa are less clear.…”