Pentoxifylline does not prevent hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced necrotizing enterocolitis. An experimental study.
Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced intestinal injury plays a significant role in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We experimentally explored the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) on an NEC model. Twenty-one newborn rabbits were divided into three groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (H/R) and group 3 (H/R + PTX). Five minutes of reoxygenation following 5 min of hypoxia was performed three times a day during 3 days. Before each H/R procedure in the H/R + PTX group, the rabbits were treated with PTX 25 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Animals were sacrificed on the third day and ileum samples were taken for histopathological examination and biochemical enzyme studies [superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST)]. There was a significant difference in the grade and number of the intestinal lesions between controls and the H/R and H/R + PTX groups (p < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between the H/R and the H/R + PTX groups (p > 0.05). Intestinal SOD, GR and GST activities in the H/R and H/R + PTX groups were significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference between the H/R and H/R + PTX groups (p > 0.05). Significantly reduced GPx activity was found in the H/R and H/R + PTX groups compared with the controls (p < 0.05). No significant difference in GPx activity existed between the H/R group and the H/R + PTX group (p > 0.05). Ischemia/reperfusion injury was responsible for mediating hypoxia-induced intestinal necrosis in NEC and PTX pretreatment did not have a protective effect on NEC.
Erdener
Dilek
D
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. dierdener@e-kolay.net
Bakirtas
Figen
F
Alkanat
Murat
M
Mutaf
Isil
I
Habif
Sara
S
Bayindir
Oya
O
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D007082:Ileum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D010100:Oxygen; D010431:Pentoxifylline