DEXTRAN SULFATE SODIUM SALT (36,000-50,000 M.Wt.) Colitis Grade

Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) which has proven to have versatile value in Biomedical/clinical research. DSS can be used to study Colitis (Inflammatory Bowel disease) as well as an antiviral as agent.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract which is associated with increased risk of developing colitis-associated cancer. Several animal models have been used to study colitis and one such model involves the oral administration of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in the drinking water of mice leading to chronic colitis. This DSS induced colitis model is spontaneous and is used to assess the therapeutic potential of treatments for IBD.

Bamba et al (2012) performed a comparative analysis of 3 different DSS preparations to examine the chemical and cytotoxic properties as well as severity of colitis. Their study concluded that the DSS from MP Biomedicals induced a severe colitis as indicated by body weight transition, DAI score, colon weight/length and histological scores. This DSS is well characterized and offers the following advantages:
• Highest sulfur content – 19%
• Highest chirality - +104° of specific rotation
• Lowest pH – 6.2 at 1% solution

Dextran sulfate is a polyanionic derivative of dextran produced by esterification of Dextran with chlorosulphonic acid. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) is the sodium salt which is a white to off-white powder freely soluble in water and salt solutions to form a stable, clear solution. The sulfur content is approximately 17% which corresponds to an average of 1.9 sulfate groups per glucosyl residue of the dextran molecule.