Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vascular changes play a role in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis in asphyxiated newborn pigs

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common acquired gastrointestinal emergency in neonates. We have developed an animal model of NEC in asphyxiated newborn pigs and investigated the effects of asphyxia on blood flow in superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta, cardiovascular data, arterial acid-base and blood gas parameters, and endothelial cytoskeletal structure in mesenteric microvasculature. Anesthetized, mechanically ventilated newborn pigs were included in two groups: piglets underwent severe asphyxia, and sham-operated control animals. A cardiovascular and metabolic failure developed in asphyxiated piglets approximately 1 h after the induction: severe hypotension and bradyarrhythmia were seen and significant reductions of the blood flow were measured in the superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta during the critical phase. Rearrangement of cytoskeletal actin structure corresponding to enhanced vascular permeability was seen with bodipy phallacidin in mesenterial endothelium of asphyxiated piglets after a 24-h recovery period. In conclusion, severe vasomotor changes during asphyxia may result in mesenteric endothelial dysfunction implicated in increased vascular permeability, edema formation, and development of NEC in asphyxiated piglets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1a–d.
Fig. 2a, b.
Fig. 3a, b.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ábrahám CS, Temesvári P, Kovács J, Schultz K, Molnár D (1996) Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid hyperinsulinism in asphyxiated piglets. Biol Neonate 70:296–303

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ábrahám CS, Vágvölgyi J, Gellén B, Kovács J, Deli MA, Tarrade T, Koltai M, Pintér S, Temesvári P, Braquet P (1994) Temporal characterization of the progression of necrotizing enterocolitis after neonatal asphyxia due to bilateral pneumothorax in piglets. Pediatr Res 35:210A

    Google Scholar 

  3. Amoury RA (1993) Necrotizing enterocolitis. In: Ashcraft KW, Holder TM (eds) Pediatric surgery. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 341–357

  4. Claud EC, Walker WA (2001) Hypothesis: inappropriate colonization of the premature intestine can cause neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. FASEB J 15:1398–1403

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Crissinger KD, Grisham MB, Granger DN (1989) Developmental biology of oxidant-producing enzymes and antioxidants in the piglet intestine. Pediatr Res 25:612–616

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fasching G, Höllwarth ME, Schmidt B, Sauer H (1992) Necrotizing enterocolitis in very-low-birth-weight infants. Pediatr Surg Int 7:428–430

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jacobson ED (1994) Circulation and mucosal injury. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 10:138–142

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hsueh W, Caplan MS, Sun X, Gonzalez-Crussi F (1992) Pathogenetic lessons from experimental models of necrotizing enterocolitis. Pediatr Surg Int 7:415–420

    Google Scholar 

  9. Karna P, Senagore A, Chou CC (1986) Comparison of the effect of asphyxia, hypoxia, and acidosis on intestinal blood flow and O2 uptake in newborn piglets. Pediatr Res 20:929–932

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kliegman RM, Walsh MC (1991) Pathophysiology and epidemiology of necrotizing enterocolitis. In: Polin RA, Fox WW (eds) Fetal and neonatal physiology. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1078–1084

  11. Koivusalo A, Kauppinen H, Anttila A, Heikkila P, Rintala R, Lindahl H (2000) Rectosigmoid pHi monitoring during experimental necrotizing enterocolitis. J Pediatr Surg 35:1462–1467

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lum H, Roebuck KA (2001) Oxidant stress and endothelial dysfunction. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 280:C719–C741

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nowicki PT, Nankervis CA, Miller CE (1993) Effects of ischemia and reperfusion on intrinsic vascular regulation in the postnatal intestinal circulation. Pediatr Res 33:400–404

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Pierro A, Manalang LR, May PL, Cooke RW, Cudmore RE, Lloyd DA (1993) Necrotizing enterocolitis complicating the management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. J Pediatr Surg 28:982–985

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Schneider PA, Hamilton SR, Dudgeon DL (1987) Intestinal ischemic injury following mild hypothermic stress in the neonatal piglet. Pediatr Res 21:422–425

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Stauffer UG (1994) Necrotizing enterocolitis. Acta Paediatr 83:666–668

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Temesvári P, Hencz P, Joó F, Eck E, Szerdahelyi P, Boda D (1984) Modulation of the blood-brain barrier permeability in neonatal cytotoxic brain edema: laboratory and morphological findings obtained on newborn piglets with experimental pneumothorax. Biol Neonate 46:198–208

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Thurston G, Baldwin AL, Wilson LM (1995) Changes in endothelial actin cytoskeleton at leakage sites in rat mesentery microvasculature. Am J Physiol 268:H316–H329

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Touloukian RJ, Posch JN, Spencer R (1972) The pathogenesis of ischemic gastroenterocolitis of the neonate: selective gut mucosal ischemia in asphyxiated neonatal piglets. J Pediatr Surg 7:194–205

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Velásquez OR, Granger DN, Crissinger KD (1992) Intestinal microcirculation in the neonate. Pediatr Surg Int 7:408–414

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements. This study was supported by Hungarian Research Fund (OTKA-F016682, OTKA-T038060), and by Foundation for the Hungarian Science (9/94/I).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 14–15, 6720, Szeged, Hungary

    B. Gellén, J. Kovács, P. Megyeri, S. Pintér & C. S. Ábrahám

  2. Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 14–15, 6720, Szeged, Hungary

    L. Németh & P. Németh

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 14–15, 6720, Szeged, Hungary

    J. Vágvölgyi

  4. Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 14–15, 6720, Szeged, Hungary

    F. Bari

  5. Department of Paediatrics, Bács-Kiskun County Hospital, Kecskemét, Hungary

    P. Temesvári

  6. Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre, 6720, Szeged, Hungary

    M. A. Deli

  7. Department of Pharmacology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

    M. Vecsernyés

  8. Department of Biopharmacy, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

    Z. Szilvássy

  9. Institut Henri Beaufour, Le Plessis Robinson, France

    M. Koltai

Authors
  1. B. Gellén
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Kovács
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Németh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. Németh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Vágvölgyi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. F. Bari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P. Megyeri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. S. Pintér
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. P. Temesvári
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. M. A. Deli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M. Vecsernyés
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Z. Szilvássy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. M. Koltai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. C. S. Ábrahám
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Németh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gellén, B., Kovács, J., Németh, L. et al. Vascular changes play a role in the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis in asphyxiated newborn pigs. Ped Surgery Int 19, 380–384 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-003-1015-4

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-003-1015-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation