Background: Several factors compromise the normal operating capacity of the colon. Ulcerative colitis is one of the most frequent forms of gastrointestinal disorders that requires long-term treatment. Probiotic supplementation is increasingly used to treat and prevent gastrointestinal problems. The strong antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) increases intracellular cysteine and glutathione levels and scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Objective: To compare the therapeutic effects of probiotics versus NAC in albino rats with induced UC.
Material and Methods: Six groups of fifty animals were separated: control group (I), sub-group, Ia and Ib, Probiotic group (II), N-acetylcysteine group (III), Induced colitis group (IV); colitis treated with probiotics group (V); and colitis treated with NAC group (VI). After two weeks, blood samples were collected to assess the levels of oxidative stress markers (MDA), (SOD), and (CAT). Colon samples were prepared for histological and immunohistochemical examinations as well as for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results: The induced colitis group exhibited a significant reduction in mucosal thickness, with loss of surface epithelium, cells with pyknotic nuclei, and vacuolated cytoplasm. The number of goblet cells was markedly decreased, and cellular infiltration and fibrotic alterations were observed. SEM revealed a widening of the crypt openings. A significant decrease in Ki 67 and an increase in caspase 3 immunoreactivity were also observed. Moreover, the administration of probiotics had more ameliorating effects on these changes than N-acetyl cysteine.
Conclusion: Probiotics exhibited superior improvements in biochemical, histological, and morphometric results compared to NAC in inducing colitis through their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-apoptotic effects.