Comparison of dextran sulfate sodium free drinking with gavage-induced mouse model of ulcerative colitis

AimTo compare the effects of two methods —free drinking and gavage administration of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)—in inducing an ulcerative colitis (UC) mouse model.MethodsTwenty-four C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (normal drinking water, daily gavage of 0. 2 mL PBS), DSS-1 group (free access to 4% DSS solution), DSS-2 group (free access to 4% DSS solution with daily gavage of 0. 2 mL PBS), and DSS-3 group(normal drinking water, daily gavage of 0. 2 mL 50% DSS solution, followed by 0. 2 mL PBS after 12 hours). During the experiment, the mouse body weight, disease activity index (DAI) score, and colon length were monitored. The colonic tissue changes, tight junction proteins, and inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed using histopathology, qPCR, and Western blot.ResultsAfter DSS intervention, all model groups exhibited significant weight loss (P P P P ConclusionBoth methods successfully induce UC models; however, the gavage method results in lower coefficients of variation in pathological indicators, producing a more stable and uniform UC mouse model.