title: Protective effects of dexpanthenol in an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), both oxidative stress and inflammation are considerable risk factors. The study was designed to evaluate whether administration of dexpanthenol (Dxp) is able to attenuate intestinal injury through the antioxidant and antiinflammatory mechanisms in a neonatal rat model of NEC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty newborn pups divided into four groups were included in the study: control, control+Dxp, NEC, and NEC+Dxp. NEC was induced by hyperosmolar formula and additionally the pups were exposed to hypoxia/hyperoxia and cold stress. They were sacrificed on postnatal day four, and their intestinal tissues were analyzed biochemically and histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dxp caused a significant decrease in intestinal damage as determined by the histological score, villus height and number of goblet cells in NEC groups (p<0.0001). Tissue malondialdehyde, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress indexes levels were higher in the NEC group than in the control and control+Dxp groups (p<0.001). These values were reduced in the pups treated with Dxp (p≤0.004). Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduced glutathione activities were significantly reduced in the NEC group compared to the others (p<0.005). Treatment with Dxp significantly reduced elevations in tissue homogenate levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in the NEC+Dxp group (p=0.002 and p=0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexpanthenol seems to have antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties. Prophylaxis with Dxp has a potential to reduce the severity of intestinal damage in NEC in the animals.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey. Electronic address: ramazanoz@yahoo.com.tr.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parlakpinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alaadin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nigar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taslidere
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Inonu University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karaman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D016877:Oxidants; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010205:Pantothenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010205:Pantothenic Acid; C007288:dexpanthenol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
keywords: Antioxidant; Dexpanthenol; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Pantothenic acid; Reactive oxygen species