Protective Effects of Amoxicillin and Probiotics on Colon Disorders in an Experimental Model of Acute Diverticulitis Disease

Abstract Acute diverticulitis disease is associated with inflammation and infection in the colon diverticula and may lead to severe morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the protective effects of the antibiotic (amoxicillin) and the probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis) given concurrently in addition to amoxicillin; in a rat model of acute diverticulitis disease. Acute diverticulitis was induced, in albino rats, by adding 3% weight/volume of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), to the rats’ drinking water; daily for seven days. Furthermore, injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enema (4 mg/kg). The impact of treatment was assessed by measuring physiological and immunological parameters and evaluating colon macroscopic and microscopic lesions. The results showed that both treatments (especially probiotics with amoxicillin) alleviated the adverse effects of DSS and LPS, where the rats’ body weights and the colon weight-to-length ratio were modulated. Also, the colon macroscopic damage score was significantly (p < 0.001) decreased. The pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-α, interleukin-1 beta (IL)-1β, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-18 (IL)-18]; in the colon tissue, were significantly (p < 0.001) decreased. Also, the elevation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and C-reactive protein (CRP) level was ameliorated. Moreover, the histopathological alterations of the colon tissue were improved. In conclusion, amoxicillin and probiotics-amoxicillin were effective in preventing the development of the experimentally induced acute diverticulitis through the anti-inflammatory and the immunomodulatory effects. Additionally, this study showed the role of probiotics in preventing DSS/LPS-induced acute diverticulitis, so it can be employed as a promising treatment option for acute diverticulitis.