Abstract
The purpose of this study was to make a new experimental colon ulcer model that is independent on chemicals and to assess the ulcerations and subsequent changes at various time points. Histological and mucin histochemical assessment of colon ulcers and associated regeneration induced in Wistar rats using a rapid freezing method was performed. Male rats were fasted 48 hours prior to surgery. A lower midline incision of the abdominal wall was made and a stainless steel rod, kept in dry ice-acetone, was applied to the serosal surface of the colon for 4 seconds, twice, with a 5 seconds interval. The rats were sacrificed at various time points thereafter. Histological examination showed the ulcers to be accompanied by acute inflammation, and healing was complete in almost all cases at day 24. In the ascending colon, sulfomucin was found in goblet cells in the upper half of the normal crypts, and sialomucin was found in the lower half. In the descending colon, sulfomucin was apparent almost throughout normal crypts remote from ulcers. Sialomucin dominant regenerative crypts were found near areas of ulceration in both the ascending and descending colon. Thus, the simple freezing method can produce colon ulcers, and the sialomucin that was predominant in regenerative crypts may have an important role for regeneration.
