Abstract
The use of lactobacilli in prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is hampered by insufficient knowledge about optimal species/strains and effects on intestinal bacterial populations. We therefore sought to identify lactobacilli naturally occurring in postnatal rats and examine their ability to colonize the neonatal intestine and protect from NEC. L. murinus, L. acidophilus, and L. johnsonii were found in 42, 20, and 1 out of 51 4-day old rats, respectively. Higher proportion of L. murinus in microbiota correlated with lower NEC scores. Inoculation with each of the three species during first feeding significantly augmented intestinal populations of lactobacilli four days later, indicating successful colonization. L. murinus, but not L. acidophilus or L. johnsonii, significantly protected against NEC. Thus, lactobacilli protect rats from NEC in a species- or strain-specific manner. Our results may help rationalizing probiotic therapy in NEC.
Highlights
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe intestinal inflammation affecting the pre-term infants, remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality [1, 2]
We have found a strain of L. murinus, which acts as an effective first colonizer and protects against experimental NEC
Intestinal contents from 4-day-old rats subjected to the NEC-inducing regimen of formula feeding and hypoxia were plated on blood agar to isolate a broad variety of bacteria, as well as on MRS agar, a medium optimized for lactic bacteria
Summary
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe intestinal inflammation affecting the pre-term infants, remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality [1, 2]. It affects 0.5–5 out of every 1000 live births and accounts for 7.7% of neonatal intensive care unit admissions [3, 4]. L. murinus HF12 at 108 cfu/animal prior to treatment with C. muytjensii significantly decreased NEC scores compared to treatment with C. muytjensii alone (Table 2). Neither L. acidophilus HF20, nor L. johnsonii HF57 significantly decreased NEC pathology upon challenge with C. muytjensii (Table 2). Cfu NEC score 0 p1 N None L. murinus L. acidophilus
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