Effect of epsilon amino caproic acid on experimental acetic acid colitis

In the present rat model, intracolonic administration of 10% acetic acid produced diffuse chemical colitis. The animals were serially sacrificed at 24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the application of acetic acid. Marked hyperemia and ulceration appeared at 24 hours and the ulcers were covered with yellow plaque at 1 week. Histologically there was coagulative necrosis, vascular congestion, ulceration, infiltration with inflammatory cells and formation of crypt abscesses. These changes subsided by 8 weeks. Concomitant intracolonic administration of epsilon amino caproic acid (E.A.C.A.) protected the colonic mucosa against this chemical insult. Plasminogen activator (fibrinolytic) activity was determined on the colonic tissues. Topical application of acetic acid markedly increased the colonic mucosal fibrinolytic activity. The protective effect of E.A.C.A. was related to the decrease in the acetic acid-induced fibrinolytic activity in the colonic tissue. This animal model of experimental chemical colitis may be useful in evaluating the efficacy and mechanism of action of other therapeutic agents.