A. Kazez et al., A MODEL OF HYPOXIA-INDUCED NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS - THE ROLE OF DISTENSION, Journal of pediatric surgery, 32(10), 1997, pp. 1466-1469
Background/Purpose: This study was performed to investigate additional
effects of intestinal distension in the damage to the gut caused by h
ypoxia-reperfusion. Methods: Five groups each consisting of ten 1-day-
old Wistar albino rat pups were studied; Group 1, hypoxia-reoxygenatio
n; Group 2, hypoxia-reoxygenation and distension; Group 3, distension
and hypoxia-reoxygenation; Group 4, distension; and Group 5, control.
Hypoxia was induced by placing the rat pups in a 100% carbon dioxide c
hamber for 5 minutes. After the hypoxia, the pups were exposed to 100%
oxygen for reoxygenation for 5 minutes. The intestinal distension was
carried out with a fine 21-gauge SlLASTIC(R) cannula via rectal route
. The rats were killed on the third day, and all the intestine were ha
rvested from duodenum to sigmoid colon. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels w
ere determined as an index of lipid peroxidation related to free radic
al reaction in the intestine. The histopathologic investigation was ca
rried out by light microscopy in a blinded fashion. Results: The MDA l
evels of Group 3 animals were significantly higher than those in Group
1, 4, and the control group (P<.05). The MDA level of Group 2 did not
differ significantly from that of the Group 3 (P>.05). All MDA levels
of the study groups also were significantly higher than the control g
roup (P<.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that intestinal dis
tension increased the damaging effects of hypoxia-reoxygenation in the
gut. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.