Ischemic colitis in rats.

Left-sided ischemic colitis was induced in 44 inbred Male Fischer rats of the same age by a standardized devascularization procedure. Fifteen animals had nothing else done (Group I). Twenty-nine animals had feces evacuated from the left colon and received an enema just before the procedure; 14 had a sterile-water enema (Group II), and 15 had a 1 per cent hydrocortisone enema (Group III). At sacrifice, 72 hours after the surgical procedure, the mucosal surface grossly involved in ischemic changes was measured. The mean area of ischemic changes in a Group I was significantly greater than that of either Group II or Group III (P less than .05). The incidence of circumferential changes was highest in Group I and lowest in Group III; the difference between Group I and Group III was marginally significant (P = .06).