Misoprostol Attenuates Acetic Acid-induced Increases in Mucosal Permeability and Inflammation: Role of Blood Flow

The objectives of this study were 1) to quantify the effects of misoprostol (Miso; prostaglandin E1 analogue) on acetic acid-induced increases in mucosal permeability and inflammation; 2) to determine what effect acetic acid, Miso, or the combination of Miso plus acetic acid has on colonic blood flow; and 3) to assess whether the protective effect of Miso may be attributable to its vasodilatory properties. We found that intrarectal administration of acetic acid produced a 6.4-fold increase in colonic myeloperoxidase activity (an index of granulocyte infiltration), an 8.2-fold increase in mucosal permeability, a 1.6-fold increase in colonic weight, and a 6.8% decrease in body weight 48 h after enema. Miso pretreatment significantly attenuated the increases in colonic myeloperoxidase activity, mucosal permeability, and colon weight as well as prevented the loss of body weight. In a different series of experiments, we found that blood flow in the descending, transverse, and ascending colon increased 2.5- to 3.5-fold immediately after the acetic acid enema; however, it returned to control values at 1 and 4 h after enema. Miso pretreatment, followed by acetic acid, resulted in a further increase (2.5-fold) in blood flow in the descending colon 1 h after enema compared with acetic acid alone. This Miso-induced increase in blood flow at 1 h could not account for its protective effect inasmuch as colonic mucosal permeability (i.e., injury) in Miso-pretreated animals was not significantly different from values obtained in animals pretreated with vehicle and then given the enema.