Abstract
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic, relapsing and progressive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by diffused mucosal inflammation of the colon. DPP-IV inhibitors may provide a new treatment strategy for IBD. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate effect of different doses of sitagliptin as an early treatment of experimentally induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Sitagliptin was administered after the appearance of signs and symptoms of the disease as an early treatment. Twenty four mice were divided into four groups; control group, non treated DSS-induced colitis group, sitagliptin (20 mg/kg/d)-treated DSS-induced colitis group and sitagliptin (100 mg/kg/d)treated DSS-induced colitis group. The disease activity index (DAI) was calculated by summarizing the scores for weight loss, stool consistency, hemoccult positivity. The length of colon was measured as an indirect marker of inflammation (rate of colon shortening) for each mouse. Serum tumour necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-alpha) was measured. Reduced glutathione, Nitrite, Malondialdehyde were measured in Colonic homogenates. Histopathological examination was done and the lesion was scored. Reduced glutathione in colonic homogenates was increased. Histopathological score was improved. It can be concluded that sitagliptin is partially effective for treatment of mice with experimentally induced ulcerative colitis.