Oxazolone (OXA)-Induced Rodent Colitis Model

Creative Biolabs offers various rodent chemically-induced colitis models for the screening, testing, and evaluation of new drugs and formulations. Particularly, we use oxazolone, a chemical allergen and a haptenating agent, to induce Th2-mediated colitis. This model has exhibited similar histologic features and distribution of inflammation to ulcerative colitis (UC), which has important implications for the use of this model in the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of UC.

Induction of Colitis

The induction of colitis is divided into two phases: the sensitization and the challenge. Before induction, a 2×2 cm field of the abdominal skin is shaved. In the sensitization phase, oxazolone is applied topically on the shaved skin of animals. In the challenge phase, oxazolone dissolved in ethanol is intrarectally administered to the animals, resulting in marked colitis associated with weight loss and diarrhea. Histopathologically, this model is characterized by superficial colonic inflammation, epithelial cell erosions, ulcerations, infiltration of lymphocytes, and an elevated production of IL-13 by NK T-cells. This model can be used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of both preventive and curative new drugs and formulations.

Features of OXA Colitis Model

• It induces a colitis involving only the distal half of the colon.
• The condition is a T helper (Th)2-type immune response.
• It resembles UC rather than other IBD subtypes.
• Oxazolone colitis is IL-4-driven rather than IL-12-driven.
• Rectal administration of oxazolone induces a TGF-β response, which plays an important role in limiting the inflammation both in extent and in time.

Fig.1 Macroscopic observation of colitis induced by intrarectal administration of OXA solution. A: normal; B: ethanol; C: OXA. (Kojima et al. 2004)

Assessments

Body weight is measured daily in order to monitor for body weight changes. Animals are euthanized and colonic tissues are collected at the indicated times for subsequent evaluation with various histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Blood is collected to measure inflammatory cytokine level in the blood serum. Generally, we offer assessments for the testing of the therapeutic potential of drug candidates, including but not limited to:

• Body weight
• Clinical score
• DIA (Disease Activity Index)
• Colon length & weight
• Histology & immunohistochemistry
• Cytokine Production
• Myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay
• Stool consistency and hemoccult positivity
• Endoscopy

Meanwhile, Creative Biolabs also offers other types of rodent digestive system disease models that you may be interested in. They are listed as follows for you to review:

• Ethanol-Induced Rodent Gastric Ulcer Model
• Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl₄)-Induced Rodent Hepatic Injury Model
• TNBS/DNBS-Induced Rodent Colitis Model
• Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Rodent Colitis Model
• Indomethacin-Induced Rodent Inflammation in Small Intestine
• AVV-HBV-Induced Chronic HBV Infection Rodent Model
• Rodent Woodchuck Model of Chronic Hepatitis B

At Creative Biolabs, we help our clients to choose the most validated and reliable models for testing your compounds and to get the most clinically relevant data. Moreover, we work with our clients to develop models that are tailored to their specific pharmaceutical screening and testing programs. Please contact us for more information and a formal quote.

Reference

1. Kojima, R.; et al. Oxazolone-induced colitis in BALB/C mice: a new method to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic agents for ulcerative colitis[J]. Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2004, 96(3):307.

For Research Use Only.