P0639 / #1836: PROBIOTICS FOR TREATMENT OF NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS IN A MURINE MODEL

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is one of the devastating gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics are believed to decrease the risk of NEC and it has also been used for its treatment Methods: A total of 142 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to secure a total of 80 neonatal pubs. NEC was induced through exposing neonatal rats obtained via caesarean section after 18-20 days gestation (prematurity stage) to asphyxia and cold stress. Pubs were randomly divided into the following four groups: Group I (n=20) were hypoxia formula feeding (FFH) rat model of induced NEC, who have no therapy. Group II (n=20) included 20 rats of FFH-rat model of induced NEC, who underwent probiotic treatment. Group III (n=20) were rat models FFH-rat model of induced NEC, treated by oral antibiotics. Group IV (n=20) included premature, breast-fed rats, serving as controls. Seven days after birth, all rats were sacrificed, intestinal injury and TNF-α-, IL-18-, as well as iNOS2-expression in the intestine and liver were assessed. Results: Probiotics reduced the histological score and thus significantly reduced the rate of NEC-like intestinal injury. NEC was associated with increased Hepatic TNF-α and IL-18 positive cells. Moreover, the intestinal flushes level of TNF-α in NEC rats were increased in correlation to the controls. This high level of intestinal TNF-α and the other inflammatory liver parameters were significantly decreased in the probiotics treated model. Conclusions: This experimental study demonstrated that probiotics could treat NEC in preterm neonatal rats. The mechanism for this action might be associated with the suppressed expression of pro inflammatory mediators.