Avaliação da eficácia de Lactobacillus acidophilus no tratamento da cistite hemorrágica induzida por ciclofosfamida em ratas wistar

Abstract

Hemorrhagic cystitis is an inflammatory complication that can be caused by the administration of cyclophosphamide, which is widely used as an antineoplastic agent. In the search for new therapeutic alternatives, probiotics can suppress the inflammatory process and, therefore, can be used to prevent this disease. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of using Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM in the treatment of cyclophosphamide-induced Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Wistar rats. We used 77 8-week-old Wistar rats with an average weight of 250 grams. The animals were randomly distributed into experimental groups (n = 9): control group (CG), zero control group (GCZ), inflammation group (IG), 24-hour acute treatment groups: 24-hour lactobacilli treatment group (GL24H), and mesna group (GM), and chronic treatment groups for 30 days: treatment group with 2x108 UFC lactobacilli (GTL) and mesna+lactobacilli group (GM+L). The animals in the inflammation group and the treatment groups received an injection of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg, i.p) and after 24 hours were treated according to the respective groups. After the treatment period, the animals were euthanized, and blood collected for blood count and biochemical analysis. Urine was collected for examination of abnormal urinary sediment elements (EAS) and organs such as the bladder, kidney, and liver for histopathological examinations. Regarding the results of animals in the inflammation group, it was possible to observe statistically higher bladder weight and edema index, statistically reduced body weight, macroscopic changes with signs of bleeding in the bladder, histopathological lesions, and changes in the blood count with erythrocytes, hematocrit and platelets statistically reduced, indicating bleeding from the use of cyclophosphamide. There was a statistically significant difference in the biochemical parameters between the groups, but within the reference values of healthy animals, as well as the parameters analyzed in the animals' urine. The animals treated with lactobacilli showed intact urothelium, without inflammatory reaction and changes in urine, hematological and biochemical changes, in the same way as the animals treated with Mesna. Therefore, this research demonstrated that the use of L. acidophilus reduced the inflammatory and hemorrhagic action of cyclophosphamide in the bladder of animals both in the short and in the long term, presenting itself as a promising treatment alternative for hemorrhagic cystitis.