Short-chain fatty acid enemas fail to decrease colonic hypersensitivity and inflammation in TNBS-induced colonic inflammation in rats

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Abstract
Enemas (acetate, propionate and particularly butyrate) were studied on visceral pain thresholds following colonic distension in control rats and in rats with colitis (instilled with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)). Results: Butyrate enemas (40 mM twice daily for 14 days) decreased colonic pain thresholds in control rats; they did not reduce the TNBS-induced hypersensitivity, but on the contrary increased its duration (without modifying the inflammation score). This pronociceptive effect was confirmed in control rats receiving twice daily enemas of 80 mM for 3 days and two enemas of 240 mM of a butyrate solution. The other SCFA enemas did not modify the hypersensitivity of rats with colitis and induced proinflammatory effects. Conclusions: The beneficial effect of SCFA (especially butyrate) enemas on hypersensitivity and inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease is questionable and needs to be thoroughly investigated in humans....