Colchicine in experimental alkaline burns of the rat esophagus: an old drug, a new indication?

Aim: An experimental study was performed to investigate the efficacy of colchicine in the prevention of fibrosis in the alkaline burn of the esophagus in rats. Method: A standard esophageal alkaline burn was produced by the application of 37.5% NaOH for a period of 90 s to the distal esophagus followed by a water rinse. The experiments were conducted twice with two different dosages of colchicine. In the first experiment, colchicine 1 mg/kg (i.p.) was applied once, on the first day. Group A (n:8), the sham laparotomy group; group B (n:8), the untreated group (positive control group); Group C (n:16), where the standard esophageal burn was induced and colchicine applied at a dose of 1 mg/kg i.p. in 1 ml volume, and group D (n:14), where the rats did not have any operation, but were treated with colchicine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) as in group C. In the second experiment, colchicine was applied at repeated doses of 100 μg/kg (i.p.) on the first, 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Twenty-five rats were divided into groups. Group AA (n:8), the sham laparotomy group; group BB (n:9), the untreated group (positive control group); and group CC (n:8), where the standard esophageal burn was induced and colchicine was applied at repeated doses. All the rats were killed on the 28th day and evaluated for esophageal tissue hydroxyproline content and histopathologic damage score. Results: Colchicine treatment at a dose of 1 mg/kg significantly reduced the quantity of hydroxyproline in the esophageal tissue in groups C and D compared with the positive control group B (P<0.05). However, it is associated with a mortality rate of 60%. Colchicine at repeated doses of 100 μg/kg showed no significant effect in group CC compared to the untreated group BB and in the quantity tissue of hydroxyproline content (P>0.05). Conclusion: At non-toxic doses, colchicine was not effective in the treatment of alkaline esophageal burn in rats. Colchicine-like molecules with less adverse effects or colchicine itself in titrated doses may be hopeful in preventing the development of fibrosis in the alkaline burns of the esophagus.