Protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on necrotizing enterocolitis in neonatal rats.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) might have protective effects on the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a neonatal rat model.


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.


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.
Department of General Surgery, Children's Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200040, P. R. China.
Qingfeng
Q
Sheng
Zhibao
Z
Lv
Wei
W
Cai
Huanlei
H
Song
Linxi
L
Qian
Xueli
X
Wang
D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000150:complications; D001835:Body Weight; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000975:Antioxidants; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006859:Hydrogen; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D006631:Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)
Hydrogen-rich saline; Inflammation; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Oxidative stress