Prophylactic antenatal N-Acetyl Cysteine administration combined with postnatal administration can decrease mortality and injury markers associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in a rat model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating gastrointestinal disease of neonates, especially premature neonates. To date, there is no prophylactic treatment against NEC, except breast milk and slow increase in enteral feeding, and there is no antenatal prophylaxis.

Aims

To assess possible protective effects of antenatal N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) against the intestinal pathophysiological changes associated with NEC in a rat model of NEC and against its associated mortality.

Methods

Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: control (n = 33); NEC (n = 32)-subjected to hypoxia and formula feeding for 4 days to induce NEC; NEC-NAC (n = 34)-with induced NEC and concomitant postnatal NAC administration; NAC-NEC (n = 33)-born to dams treated with N

SUBMITTER: Zmora O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7263616 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature