Impact of corticosteroid on intestinal injury in a gastroschisis rat model: morphometric analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The goal in the treatment of gastroschisis is to prevent intestinal injury. Corticosteroids are known by their effects at the inflammatory response and by the improvement on the intestinal maturity. The authors evaluated the effects of maternal corticosteroid administration on the intestines of rats that underwent fetal gastroschisis.


METHODS
A Correia-Pinto-modified gastroschisis rat model was used. Two groups were assessed: the control group (group 1) and the dexamethasone group (group 2). Each group was composed of control and sham fetuses, and fetuses with gastroschisis. Fetal body weight, intestinal weight, intestinal length, and protein were assessed. Histologic analysis involved measures of intestinal loop diameter, total intestinal wall, mucosa and submucosa, both circular and longitudinal muscle layers, and serosal thicknesses. Differences between groups and subgroups were tested by the analysis of variance method with a significant P value less than .05.


RESULTS
Dexamethasone decreased in all the morphometric data except in the intestinal length. Dexamethasone increased the intestinal protein content in fetuses with gastroschisis, and control and sham fetuses. In both groups, all histologic parameters were increased in fetuses with gastroschisis (P < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone caused a substantial decrease in intestinal weight in GFs, increased the intestinal protein content, and it may be useful in decreasing the intestinal damage of gastroschisis.
Bittencourt
Daniel Guimarães
DG
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, CEP: 13084-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Barreto
Maria Weber Guimarães
MW
França
Willy Marcus Gomes
WM
Gonçalves
Anderson
A
Pereira
Luis Antônio Violin
LA
Sbragia
Lourenço
L
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000601:surgery*; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation; D007422:Intestines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011506:Proteins; D003907:Dexamethasone