The impact of water-soluble C60 fullerenes on the development of acute colitis in rats

Anti-inflammatory drugs are traditionally applied for the treatment of acute colitis of various etiologies. However, they have several disadvantages due to intestinal and extraintestinal complications and lowefficiency. Therefore, a search for new agents which would be effective at colonic inflammation is relevant. Potential anti-inflammatory and protective properties of the water-soluble C60 fullerenes on rat acute ulcerative colitis model were assessed. Acute colitis was induced by rectal administration of 0.5 ml of 10% acetic acid solution. C60 fullerenes (0.5 mg/kg body weight) in the stable aqueous solution were administered intraperitoneally or rectally at 24 and 48 h after the colitis induction. Animals were euthanized at 24 h after the last administration. State of the colon was evaluated macroscopically by 10-grade scale, and the colon epithelial barrier permeability was assessed for diurnal phenol red excretion. The levels of serum blood transaminases, creatinine and urea were also measured for liver and kidney state assessment. Colonic lesions were reduced in some animals (3 of total number of 6) by C60 fullerenes administered intraperitoneally. Moreover, mucosal dama­ge was significantly weaker in all animals under C60 fullerenes rectal administration (3 grades vs 5). C60 fullerenes applied by both methods partially corrected local and systemic changes: colon mucosa epithelial barrier and kidney and liver functions were restored. Thus, C60 fullerenes correct local and systemic consequences of the acute colitis. The protective effects of C60 fullerenes are more pronounced at topical administration compared with the intraperitoneal one