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. 2014 Feb 4:104:15.25.1-15.25.14.
doi: 10.1002/0471142735.im1525s104.

Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice

Benoit Chassaing  1 , Jesse D Aitken  1 , Madhu Malleshappa  1 , Matam Vijay-Kumar  2   3
Affiliations

Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice

Benoit Chassaing et al. Curr Protoc Immunol. .

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), mainly comprising ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease, are complex and multifactorial diseases with unknown etiology. For the past 20 years, to study human IBD mechanistically, a number of murine models of colitis have been developed. These models are indispensable tools to decipher underlying mechanisms of IBD pathogenesis as well as to evaluate a number of potential therapeutics. Among various chemically induced colitis models, the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model is widely used because of its simplicity and many similarities with human ulcerative colitis. This model has both advantages and disadvantages that must be considered when employed. This protocol describes the DSS-induced colitis model, focusing on details and factors that could affect DSS-induced pathology.

Keywords: chemical colitogen; inflammatory bowel disease; intestinal inflammation; myeloperoxidase; occult blood; ulcerative colitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. DSS-induced intestinal inflammation in mice
Eight week old C57BL6 mice were given 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. Control mice were given water only. On day 8, mice were sacrificed and monitored for colitis. A. Gross picture of colons. B. Endoscopic examination of colons. C. H&E stained colonic sections. Arrows indicate: 1. Shortened and bleeding colons, 2. Enlarged spleen, 3. Superficial inflammation, 4. Epithelial erosion and immune cell infiltration in DSS-treated mice.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of DSS-induced colitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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