Investigation of the effect of neural therapy and electrical stimulation in the experimental colitis model induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in rats

Objective: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) is a systemic chronic disease affecting the gastrointestinal system. Neural therapy (NT) is a regulation treatment applied through the injection of procaine or lidocaine. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of NT and/or electrical stimulation (ES) in an experimental colitis model induced by Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (TNBS) in rats. Materials and Methods: Ninety one male Wistar Albino rats were divided into 13 groups (sham control, TNBS, TNBS+intrarectal (i.r.) procaine, TNBS+i.r. lidocaine, TNBS+ intraperitoneal (i.p.) procaine, TNBS+i.p. lidocaine, TNBS+subcutaneous (s.c.) procaine, TNBS+s.c. lidocaine, TNBS+ES, TNBS+ES+i.r. procaine, TNBS+ES+i.r. lidocaine, TNBS+ES+i.p. procaine, TNBS+ES+i.p. lidocaine). Colitis was induced using TNBS dissolved in 37% ethanol. Procaine or lidocaine was administered i.r., i.p., s.c. at a dose of 10mg/kg for 3 days. ES was applied to the ST36 acupuncture point for 10 minutes/day for 3 days. After treatment, colon segments and kidney tissue were removed from the subjects for biochemical and histopathological examination. Results: In the biochemical analyses, parameters involved in oxidative stress (MDA, MPO) and proinflammatory response (TNF-α, IL1beta, IL6) were found to increase in the TNBS group, while antioxidant values (SOD, CAT, GPx) and anti-inflammatory response (IL4 and IL10) showed a decrease. These values approached those of the control group with treatment. In the histopathological analyses, significant improvement was observed in colon tissue in the treatment groups, while partial improvement was observed in kidney tissue. Conclusion: The therapeutic efficacy of NT in IBD has been demonstrated in the experimental colitis model through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The combination of neural therapy and ES showed a synergistic potential for improvement.