A NONSPECIFIC type of ulcerative colitis, apparently distinct pathologically and clinically from idiopathic ulcerative colitis, sometimes results from colonic obstruction secondary to tumor.1,2 Obstruction of the bowel from causes other than tumor also appears to produce inflammation and ulceration, as in Hirschsprung's disease3 and some cases of prestomal ileitis.4,5 Because this inflammatory lesion, superficially at least, may resemble idiopathic ulcerative colitis and because there could be pathogenic mechanisms in common between these entities, it seemed important to determine if the lesion could be produced experimentally, and in the experimental preparation to investigate the pathogenesis of the disease.
Methods and Materials
The mongrel dogs used were isolated, vaccinated for distemper and hepatitis, and were required to have negative stool tests for ova and parasites.Experimental obstructions of the lower colon were initially produced by infolding the colon upon itself with successive layers of Lembert silk sutures. Usually two