April 2025 – Nasim Najjarzadeh (PhD), Marketing Manager

Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)

DSS40 (Dextran Sulfate Sodium) is a pivotal reagent in colitis research, used to induce colitis in experimental models. This facilitates the study of inflammatory bowel disease mechanisms and the development of potential treatments. The prepared white paper titled DSS40, A Key Reagent in Colitis Studies, covers the following key points:

Introduction to DSS40

The white paper titled White paper_DSS provides an in-depth overview of DSS40’s role in inducing colitis in experimental models, which is crucial for studying inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mechanisms and developing potential treatments. It discusses the advantages of DSS-induced colitis models, protocols for inducing colitis, and the assessment of disease severity. The paper also highlights the use of DSS40 in different animal models and the factors influencing its effectiveness.

Advantages of DSS-Induced Colitis Models

• Ease of Administration: Typically administered in drinking water, making it less invasive compared to other methods.
• Rapid Induction: Colitis is usually induced within 5-7 days, allowing for the study of early phases of the disease.
• Reproducibility: Provides consistent results across different experiments and laboratories.
• Control Over Disease Severity: The severity can be adjusted by modifying the concentration and duration of DSS administration.
• Simulation of Acute and Chronic Colitis: Depending on the exposure, DSS can induce either acute or chronic colitis.
• Cost-Effective: Relatively inexpensive compared to other methods.

Protocols for Inducing Colitis

Detailed protocols for inducing both acute and chronic colitis using DSS, including optimal conditions for different animal models.

Assessment of Disease Severity

Methods for measuring disease severity include macroscopic evaluation, histology, myeloperoxidase activity, and permeability assessment. Molecular assessments, such as inflammatory cytokine levels and genetic assessments.

DSS in Different Animal Models

Guidelines for DSS concentration and duration of administration for successful colitis induction in various animal models, including mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and chickens.