Rapid production of ulcerative disease of the colon in newly-weaned guinea-pigs by degraded carrageenan

Abstract

In a dose-response study, degraded carrageenan (Eucheuma spinosum) was supplied in the drinking fluid at 1.2 and 3% concentrations over two weeks to young adult guinea-pigs. Ulceration of the large bowel was produced in 100% of animals, the severity and extent of damage probably being dose-related. In a time-course study, 3% degraded carrageenan solution supplied to newly-weaned guinea-pigs produced in 100% of animals ulceration in the caecum by four days and in the ascending colon by seven days. The onset of ulceration occurred as early as the second day. This model is convenient and economic for the screening of drugs of potential therapeutic value in human ulcerative colitis.

Comparison of Olestra Absorption in Guinea Pigs with Normal and Compromised Gastrointestinal Tracts

“…The amounts of poligeenan consumed by animals in the Sentinel and Compromised groups were essentially equal: 4.1 and 4.0 g/kg/day, respectively. Animals in these groups exhibited several findings consistent with published observations of the effect of poligeenan on the GI tract (Grasso et al, 1973;Anver and Cohen, 1976;van der Waaij et al, 1974;Marcus et al, 1988). Diarrhea or soft stools, anogenital staining, and the presence of blood in the refuse pan were observed among animals in both groups.…”

“…In this study, feeding poligeenan for 5 weeks produced damage in the GI tract of the guinea pigs similar to that reported by others (Grasso et al, 1973;Anver and Cohen, 1976;van der Waaij et al, 1974;Marcus et al, 1988). Endoscopic examination of the lower GI tracts of the Sentinel animals (poligeenan-fed animals killed 1 day before the animals in the other groups were dosed with radiolabeled olestra) confirmed that the GI mucosa was damaged extensively.…”

“…The model chosen was the poligeenan-fed guinea pig. Numerous investigators have shown that the mucosal integrity of the lower GI tract of the guinea pig is damaged when the animal is fed poligeenan, carrageenan that has been degraded by acid hydrolysis (Grasso et al, 1973;Anver and Cohen, 1976;van der Waaij et al, 1974;Marcus et al, 1988). These studies have shown that guinea pigs fed poligeenan develop lesions of the cecum, colon, and rectum.…”

Bacteria of the human gut microbiome catabolize red seaweed glycans with carbohydrate-active enzyme updates from extrinsic microbes

“…These activities largely depend on the molecular weight of the polymer (34) and the amount of sulfations along the polysaccharide chain, both factors which are modulated with specific microbial CAZymes and sulfatases (29). Indeed, health implications and concerns have been associated with the low-molecular-weight degradation products of carrageenan, which elicited ulcerative colitis in animal models (11,(35)(36)(37). Our screening for red algal galactan degrading gut microbes revealed B. thetaiotaomicron VPI-3731, which presented strong growth on carrageenan and must therefore contain one or more carrageenases.…”

Histological and Mucin Histochemical Study of Colon Ulcers Induced in Rats by a Rapid Freezing Method

“…Some sulfated polysaccharides, such as degraded carrageenan [1][2][3] , dextran sulfate sodium 4,5 , and sulfated amylopectin 6,7 can produce ulcerative disease of the colon in experimental animals when added to their drinking water. Topical application of trinitrobenzen sulfonic acid 8 or acetic acid [8][9][10] can also produce ulcerative colitis.…”