DSS-induced Acute Intestinal Inflammation in Rats: Histological Features

The objective of this study was to identify morphological changes in goblet cells, in intestinal inflammation. In order to do that, we induced acute intestinal inflammation, in rats, using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Ten male Wistar rats were divided in two groups: experimental and control. Intestinal inflammation was induced in the first group, by oral administration of 5% DSS solution in water, while the animals from control group received tap water, both ad libitum for 7 days. During necropsy, were collected samples from the stomach, jejunum and colon that underwent fixation. Later, the regular paraffin-processing technique was utilized and stained by Goldner’s trichrome method. Tissue samples were examined and both statistical and morphometric analysis were performed. The histological examination of jejunum revealed lesions ranging from desquamative to necrotic jejunitis, including coagulative necrosis of the apical pole of the villi. At the level of colon were identified multifocal desquamative areas, discrete oedema of the lamina propria and increased cell apoptosis. The morphometric analysis revealed hypertrophy of the goblet cells in the experimental group. The present study results suggest that the used experimental protocol determined the appearance of acute inflammatory lesions at the level of both small and large intestine, extending from desquamative areas up to more severe necrotic lesions.