Effects of Age and Sex on the Healing of Acetic-Acid Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Adult Wistar Rats

Aims: Ulcerative colitis is a disease of the bowel that occurs in all ages and affects both males and females. This research study was designed to investigate the effect of age and sex on the healing of colitis in rats.

Methodology: Twenty - eight rats were randomly distributed into four groups of seven animals per group; adult male rats, mid age male rats, adult female rats and mid age female rats. Mid age and adult Wistar rats were 7- 8weeks and 14 weeks old respectively. Colitis was induced through a single intra-colonic instillation of 7% acetic acid (1mL/100g body weight) and allowed to heal for 14 days. Blood samples were obtained for analysis. Colon samples were also obtained for histomorphological study and biochemical assays (Myeloperoxidase activities, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione, Catalase and Malondialdehyde) levels.

Results: There was no significant difference in Malondialdehyde concentration, catalase, Superoxide dismutase, Myeloperoxidase, Platelet Distribution Width, Platelet Count, Basophil cell numbers, Eosinophil cell numbers, platelet cells, Mean Platelet Volume , Mean Cell Volume and white blood cells across the groups. The Glutathione concentration in mid age male rats was significantly increased when compared with adult male rats. The haemoglobin , Lymphocytes and Mean Cell Haemoglobin levels were increased while neutrophils and monocyte levels were decreased in the younger female rats. The histomorphological study revealed poorly preserved surface epithelia layer of the colon in adult male rats while mid age male and female rats showed moderately preserved surface epithelia layer, adult female rats showed normal surface epithelia layer.

Conclusion: Mid age rats heal faster than adult rats while in terms of sex, female rats tends to heal faster than male rats.