Orally administered emu oil attenuates disease in a mouse model of Crohn’s-like colitis

Crohn’s disease is a severe, incurable inflammatory bowel disease. Orally administered emu oil has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in previous models of gastrointestinal disease. We aimed to determine whether orally administered emu oil could attenuate disease in a mouse model of Crohn’s-like colitis. Female ARC(s) mice (CD-1 equivalent, n = 10/group) were intra-rectally administered water (120 μL) or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS; 3 mg in 50% ethanol; 120 μL bolus) on day 0. Mice were orally administered water (80 μL) or emu oil (80 μL or 160 μL) daily for five days and euthanized on day six. Bodyweight and disease activity were recorded daily. Colonoscopy, burrowing activity, facial grimace, histological parameters (damage severity, small intestinal villus height/crypt depth and colonic crypt depth), myeloperoxidase activity and intestinal permeability were assessed. P