Effects of sennosides and nonanthranoid laxatives on cytochemistry of epithelial cells in rat colon.

The cytochemical effects of laxatives on rat colonic epithelial cells were studied. A total of 32 rats was divided into four groups. Three groups were treated with bisacodyl, picosulfate and sennosides for 12 weeks, and a fourth group served as control. The rectum, midcolon and cecum were studied for acidic mucins, lectin soybean agglutinin (SBA) and cytokeratin AE1. Most striking and consistent changes were found in the rectum including total acidic mucin content which significantly increased, with sulfomucin decreased and sialomucin increased in the three treatment groups. Cytokeratin AE1 expression increased on picosulfate and sennosides. SBA total binding increased on bisacodyl and picosulfate. The present findings were thought to be of functional origin and do not represent early precancerous lesions.