Author(s)

Olugbenga Adeola Odukanmi^1,2*, Adeola Temitope Salami¹, Koyo Koda², Oyenike Lola Morakinyo¹, Samuel Babafemi Olaleye¹

¹Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Secretion and Inflammation, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
²Department of Biotechnology, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Maebashi, Japan.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) has reactive oxygen species (ROS) and immunologic pathways implicated in its pathogenesis. The search for new therapeutic protocols in managing UC is tailored in suppressing or preventing these pathways. The influence of trivalent chromium (Cr³⁺), an essential mineral on experimental colitis was investigated. Mice were grouped into 3; group 1 (control) received clean drinking water while groups 2 and 3 received 10 and 100 ppm Cr³⁺ respectively for 12 weeks through drinking water. After Cr³⁺ administration, 5 animals per group were sacrificed on day 0. Thereafter, experimental colitis was induced intra-rectally using acetic acid (4%, 0.3mL) and 5 mice per group were subsequently sacrificed on days 3, 7 and 14. Blood and colonic tissues were obtained and processed appropriately. Blood Cr³⁺ level, haematological variables, gross and microscopic colitis scores, colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined using standard methods. Colon cytokine mRNA genes were quantified using real-time PCR. There was a significant decrease in colon gross and histology scores on days 3 and 7 in chromium treated compared with control. The MPO and MDA in chromium groups reduced significantly compared with control while SOD activities increased significantly in Cr³⁺ groups compared with control. Total RNA increased in chromium groups compared with control on day 3 post-colitis. There was up-regulation of IL-10, down-regulation of TNF-α and IFN-λ in chromium administered groups compared with control. Chromium enhanced healing of colitis by suppression of ROS, inflammation and promotion of antioxidant activities.

Colitis, Oxidative Stress, Trivalent Chromium, Inflammation, Mice

Odukanmi, O. , Salami, A. , Koda, K. , Morakinyo, O. and Olaleye, S. (2017) Trivalent Chromium Promotes Healing of Experimental Colitis in Mice by Suppression of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 5, 108-126. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2017.58009.