Emu oil expedites small intestinal repair following 5-fluorouracil-induced mucositis in rats

Previously, we reported that orally administered Emu Oil (EO) increases mucosal thickness in the small intestine and colon in rodent models of chemotherapy-induced mucositis and colitis. However, it remains unclear whether mucosal thickening (crypt and villus lengthening) represents a process of normal or aberrant growth. We sought to determine if villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) measurements returned to normal in EO-treated rats following withdrawal of EO therapy. Dark agouti rats ( n = 8/group) were gavaged daily for 10 days with water, olive oil (OO), or EO (0.5 mL or 1 mL). Groups of rats were euthanized on days 10 and 17. Intestinal weights, lengths, VH, and CD were quantified. P < 0.05 was considered significant. On day 10, jejuno–ileum weight was increased by OO (26%) and EO (0.5 mL: 15%; 1 mL: 29%) compared to water controls ( P < 0.01), which was normalized by day 17. On days 10 and 17, jejuno-ileum length was greater in OO- (12%) and EO-treated rats (0.5 mL: 8%; 1 mL: 12%; P < 0.05), relative to water controls. On day 10, OO and EO increased ileal VH (OO: 32%; 0.5 EO: 22%; EO: 35%; P < 0.01) and CD (OO: 17%; 0.5 EO: 13%; EO: 22%) compared to water controls. Importantly, however, after withdrawal of all oils, VH and CD measurements returned to normal control values. Moreover, the VH:CD ratio (potential indicator of dysplasia) remained unchanged in all experimental groups on days 10 and 17. The restoration of normal intestinal architecture following cessation of Emu Oil therapy supports its safety for application in intestinal disorders. Impact statement Uncontrolled inflammation and intestinal proliferation can predispose to the development of colorectal cancer. In previous pre-clinical studies, we demonstrated that oral administration of Emu Oil promotes intestinal repair via stimulation of the mucosa in response to tissue injury and inflammation. Therefore, it was important to determine if Emu Oil administration did not promote the precocious development of colorectal cancer. The current study revealed that Emu Oil returned indicators of intestinal proliferation back to normal values after a period of seven days. These data strongly support the safety of Emu Oil for further studies in the context of bowel inflammation.

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Emu Oil Reduces Small Intestinal Inflammation in the Absence of Clinical Improvement in a Rat Model of Indomethacin-Induced Enteropathy

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/429706 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Suzanne M. Abimosleh ◽

Cuong D. Tran ◽

Gordon S. Howarth

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Intestinal Damage ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Emu Oil ◽

Sprague Dawley Rats ◽

Nsaid Enteropathy ◽

Small Intestinal ◽

Normal Controls

Nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-drug (NSAID) enteropathy is characterized by small intestinal damage and ulceration. Emu Oil (EO) has previously been reported to reduce intestinal inflammation.Aim. We investigated EO for its potential to attenuate NSAID-enteropathy in rats.Methods. Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=10/group) were gavaged with Water, Olive Oil (OO), or EO (0.5 mL; days 0–12) and with 0.5 mL Water or the NSAID, Indomethacin (8 mg/kg; days 5–12) daily. Disease activity index (DAI), 13C-sucrose breath test (SBT), organ weights, intestinal damage severity (IDS), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were assessed.P<0.05was considered significant.Results. In Indomethacin-treated rats, DAI was elevated (days 10–12) and SBT values (56%) and thymus weight (55%) were decreased, relative to normal controls. Indomethacin increased duodenum (68%), colon (24%), SI (48%), caecum (48%), liver (51%) and spleen (88%) weights, IDS scores, and MPO levels (jejunum: 195%, ileum: 104%) compared to normal controls. Jejunal MPO levels were decreased (64%) by both EO and OO, although only EO decreased ileal MPO (50%), compared to Indomethacin controls.Conclusions. EO reduced acute intestinal inflammation, whereas other parameters of Indomethacin-induced intestinal injury were not affected significantly. Increased EO dose and/or frequency of administration could potentially improve clinical efficacy.

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Effect of dietary nucleotides on small intestinal repair after diarrhoea. Histological and ultrastructural changes.

Gut ◽

10.1136/gut.35.7.926 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 35 (7) ◽

pp. 926-933 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

J Bueno ◽

M Torres ◽

A Almendros ◽

R Carmona ◽

M C Nunez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Dietary Nucleotides ◽

Small Intestinal ◽

Intestinal Repair

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Effect of dietary nucleotides on small intestinal repair after diarrhoea. Histological and ultrastructural changes J BUENO, M TORRES, A ALMENDROS, ET AL University of Granada and PULEVA Research Department, Granada, Spain

Nutrition in Clinical Practice ◽

10.1177/088453369501000413 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 160-161

Author(s):

Jeanette Hasse

Keyword(s):

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Research Department ◽

Dietary Nucleotides ◽

Small Intestinal ◽

Intestinal Repair

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Orally administered emu oil decreases acute inflammation and alters selected small intestinal parameters in a rat model of mucositis

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s000711451000084x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 104 (4) ◽

pp. 513-519 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Ruth J. Lindsay ◽

Mark S. Geier ◽

Roger Yazbeck ◽

Ross N. Butler ◽

Gordon S. Howarth

Keyword(s):

Rat Model ◽

Alimentary Tract ◽

Nutritional Supplement ◽

Saline Control ◽

Dark Agouti ◽

Sucrase Activity ◽

Emu Oil ◽

Potential Benefits ◽

Small Intestinal

Mucositis resulting from cancer chemotherapy is a serious disorder of the alimentary tract. Emu oil has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in animal models of arthritis and wound healing; however, its effects on the intestine remain unknown. We investigated emu oil for its potential to decrease the severity of mucositis in a rat model. Female Dark Agouti rats (110–150 g) were orogastrically gavaged with emu oil (0·5 or 1 ml) or water (1 ml) for 5 d before intraperitoneal injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 150 mg/kg) or saline (control), and this was continued up to the day of sacrifice (48, 72 and 96 h post 5-FU administration). Histological (villus height, crypt depth (CD) and disease severity score) and biochemical (myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity) parameters were determined in intestinal tissues collected at sacrifice. Sucrase activity in vivo was quantified by the sucrose breath test. Activated neutrophil activity (MPO) in the ileum was significantly decreased by emu oil (0·5 ml, 451 (sem 168) U/g and 1 ml, 503 (sem 213) U/g) compared with 5-FU-treated controls (1724 (sem 431) U/g) 96 h post 5-FU administration. There were also significant increases in CD (152 (sem 8) μm) in the ileum of rats that receivied 1 ml emu oil at 96 h compared with 5-FU-treated controls (CD (106 (sem 12) μm)). Emu oil did not affect sucrase activity. Emu oil decreased acute ileal inflammation, and improved mucosal architecture in the intestine during recovery from chemotherapy in rats. Further studies investigating the potential benefits of emu oil as a nutritional supplement for the treatment of intestinal disorders are indicated.

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