The dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model is a well-established and widely used model for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research, enabling the assessment of both therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of candidate treatments. By varying the duration of DSS administration, researchers can induce either acute or chronic colitis. In the acute model, DSS is given for 5 days before takedown, allowing for primary evaluation of inflammation. In contrast, the chronic model involves 5 days of DSS treatment followed by 14 days of normal housing, which is mainly suited for studying fibrosis.
