[Animal Modeling] - Ulcerative Colitis in Rats

  1. Animal model material: SD rats, both male and female, weighing 200-250g; Medication: 5g/L soapy water, 20g/L pentobarbital, 50-100ml/L acetic acid solution, physiological saline; Instrument: 3mm diameter polyethylene fiber catheter.

  2. Method of modeling: Before modeling, the animals fasted for 17-24 hours, injected 1.5ml of 5g/L soapy water through the anus, and then anesthetized intraperitoneally with 20g/L pentobarbital for about 30 minutes. A polyethylene fiber catheter with a diameter of 3mm was inserted into the rectum of the rats, with a depth of about 5-7cm. 1.5ml of acetic acid solution was injected, accurately timed for 10-20 seconds, and then 3-5ml of physiological saline was injected for rinsing to eliminate the effect of acetic acid. After that, the animals were routinely raised.

  3. Modeling principle: Acetic acid has a stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa of animals, which can cause mucosal damage.

  4. General changes after modeling: After modeling, animals may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, bloody stools, reduced movement, and weight loss.

  5. Pathological changes after modeling 1-3 days after modeling, colonic tissue showed mucosal and submucosal edema, crypt abscess, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, mucosal ulcer or partial loss of mucosa, reduction of mucinous fine cells in the edge area of the ulcer stained with periodic acid schiff (PAS), epithelial regeneration, submucosal fibrous tissue proliferation, and other changes after 3 weeks, and returned to normal after 8 weeks.

  6. Precautions: Strictly control the action time of acetic acid. Long time can lead to colon perforation, while short time can make it difficult to obtain an ideal model of diffuse inflammation. The weight of animals between groups should be similar. If the weight is low, it can easily lead to animal death, and if the weight difference is too large, it is difficult to control the modeling effect. The concentration of soap water used for enema should not exceed 5g/L, otherwise the alkaline environment in the intestine caused by soap water will affect the modeling effect. This model has strong self-healing ability and is not suitable for observing the efficacy of drugs with longer treatment courses.