Abstract

Aim: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common clinical emergency of gastrointestinal system in the neonatal period. Pathological findings are characterized by inflammation and coagulation necrosis. It is well known that ilioprost, a stabile prostacyclin analogue, has vasodilator, anticoagulant and cyto-protective effects. We aimed to evaluate the effects of iloprost on experimental neonatal NEC.

Material and Method: 30 Wistar Albino rat pups aged 1-8 hours were separated into three groups. Group I (control group) was not stressed with any factor. Group II was stressed with hypoxia by breathing of 100 % CO₂ for 5 minutes and with exposure to cold at +4°C for 10 minutes. This protocol was performed twice daily for 4 days. Iloprost was used (2 µgr/kg, intraperitoneally) in group III at the end of the each hypoxic and cold stress. Samples from the blood, hepatic and splenic tissue for microbiological study and terminal ileum biopsy for histopathological evaluation were obtained at the end of the 4^th day.

Results: No bacterial growth was detected in the blood, hepatic and splenic tissue cultures in the control group. Bacterial reproduction was detected in all rats in group II and in 5 rats in group III. Most of the isolated microorganisms were gram negative bacteria. Terminal ileum biopsies were normal in the control group. In group II, histopathologic findings were normal in three rats while grade-2 and grade-3 injury was detected in five and two rats respectively. In group III, seven rats had normal histopathological findings while grade-1 and grade-2 injury were detected in 2 and 1 rats respectively. There were statistically significant difference betweengroup I and group II and between group II and group III.

Discussion: Iloprost reduced the severity of the intestinal damage which occurred secondary to hypoxia and hypothermia causing NEC. We suggest that iloprost and its analogues may be effective with their vasodilating, antitrombotic, tissue and cytoprotective effects against causes of NEC.