Abstract
Background: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a high prevalence in young adults. Developing strategies for prevention and treatment requires both clinical studies and the use of animal models. This review aimed to examine the main methods of chemically induced colitis in animal models.
Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched using the keywords “ulcerative colitis”, “animal model”, and “chemical induction.” Data on the primary chemical agents, the animal species used, and the clinical features of each method were collected.
Findings: The findings indicate that acetic acid, dextran sodium sulphate, trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, and oxazolone are the most commonly used agents for inducing colitis. Each method has its own pathogenic features and corresponds to specific aspects of ulcerative colitis in humans. Rats and mice are the most frequently used species for establishing colitis models. Pigs and dogs—due to gastrointestinal similarities to humans—are also employed. Several factors, including the dose and concentration of the chemical agent, frequency of administration, as well as the sex, age, and strain of the animals, significantly influence study outcomes.
Conclusion: Animal models of ulcerative colitis can contribute to understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. Given the heterogeneous nature of ulcerative colitis in humans, chemically induced models may also support the development of personalized therapeutic approaches for patients.