Gastrointestinal
mucositis is one of the most prevalent side effects of
chemotherapy.
Methotrexate is a
pro-oxidant compound that depletes
dihydrofolate pools and is widely used in the treatment of
leukemia and other
malignancies. Through its effects on normal tissues with high rates of proliferation,
methotrexate treatment leads to gastrointestinal
mucositis. In rats,
methotrexate-induced gastrointestinal
mucositis is histologically characterized by crypt loss, callus fusion and
atrophy, capillary dilatation, and infiltration of mixed inflammatory cells. The water-soluble
dietary fiber sodium alginate (AL-Na) is derived from seaweed and has demonstrated muco-protective and
hemostatic effects on upper gastrointestinal
ulcers. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of AL-Na on
methotrexate-induced small intestinal
mucositis in rats. Animals were subcutaneously administered
methotrexate at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg once daily for 3 d. Rats were treated with single oral doses of AL-Na 30 min before and 6 h after
methotrexate administration. On the 4th day, small intestines were removed and weighed. Subsequently, tissues were stained with
hematoxylin-
eosin and
bromodeoxyuridine. AL-Na significantly prevented
methotrexate-induced small intestinal
mucositis. Moreover, AL-Na prevented decreases in red blood cell numbers,
hemoglobin levels, and hematocrit levels. These results suggest the potential of AL-Na as a
therapy for
methotrexate-induced small intestinal
mucositis.