General Research
Model: rat
Protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal rats
Simplified Version Available
How Hydrogen-Rich Saline Helps Protect Newborns from Intestinal Damage
Researchers found that hydrogen-rich saline may help protect newborns from a serious condition called necrotizing enterocolitis. This condition can cause tissue death in the bowel and can be life-threatening. The study used newborn rats and found that those who received hydrogen-rich saline had less damage to their intestines. This discovery could lead to a new treatment for human babies with this condition.
Read Simplified ArticleAbstract
Publish Year 2013 Country China Rank Positive Journal Journal of Pediatric Surgery Primary Topic Intestine Secondary TopicIntestinal Injury Model Rat Tertiary TopicNecrotizing Enterocolitis Vehicle Saline (Dissolved) pH Neutral Application Injection Comparison Complement
Methods
Results: HRS treatment maintained the body weight, reduced the incidence of NEC from 85% (17/20) to 54.5% (12/22), increased the survival rate from 25% (5/20) to 68.2% (15/22), and attenuated the severity of NEC. In addition, HRS inhibited the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6), down-regulated lipid peroxidation, enhanced total antioxidant capacity, and prevented the increase of diamine oxidase in serum. However, no significant influence of HRS on the interleukin-10 mRNA expression was observed. Conclusions: HRS showed beneficial effects on neonatal rats with NEC via decreasing oxidative stress, increasing antioxidant capacity, suppressing inflammation, and preserving mucosal integrity.
Purpose
Methods: NEC was induced in male newborn Sprague–Dawley rats by formula feeding, exposure to asphyxia and cold stress. Sixty-four rat pups were divided randomly into four groups: C + NS (n = 11), C + H2 (n = 11), NEC + NS (n = 20), and NEC + H2 (n = 22). Rats in the former two groups were mother-fed. Pups received intra-peritoneal injection of HRS (10 ml/kg, 10 min before asphyxia stress twice a day) or the same dose of normal saline. Rats were monitored until 96 h after birth. Body weight, histological NEC score, survival time, malondialdehyde, antioxidant capacity, inflammatory mediators, and mucosal integrity were assessed.