THE DISTURBANCE OF OXIDANT-ANTIOXIDANT BALANCE IN RAT COLONIC MUCOSA AFTER ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY

Antibiotic treatment increases susceptibility to development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) both in children and adults. Oxidative stress plays a prominent role in IBD pathogenesis. The aim of present study was to test an interrelationship between the morphological changes in rat colonic mucosa, the levels of antioxidant enzymes and redox-sensitive transcription factors Egr-1 and Sp-1 after treatment with cephalosporin antibiotic ceftriaxone (Cf) with broad spectrum of action. Study was performed on male Wistar rats (180?230 g). Cf (50 mg/kg, i.m.) were injected daily for 5 days. The colonic levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase activity were measured by the colorimetric assays and zymography; levels of Egr-1 and Sp-1 ? by Western-blot analysis; histological chan?ges ? by morphometric analysis. Body weight and diarrhea were recorded.Systemic administration of the ceftriaxone-induced morphological and functional changes in rat colonic mucosa associated with initial stages of the acute inflammation. These changes were accompanied by a decrease of activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Levels of redox-sensitive transcription factors Egr-1 and Sp1 were significantly increased, which shows a disturbance of homeostasis of the intestinal barrier.