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Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(16): 1820-1827
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727156
Original Article

Astaxanthin Reduces the Severity of Intestinal Damage in a Neonatal Rat Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Authors

  • Hasan Akduman

    1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, SBU Ankara Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

  • Cuneyt Tayman

    2   Department of Neonatology, Ankara City Hospital, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey

  • Veli Korkmaz

    3   Department of Pediatrics, Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Turkey

  • Filiz Akduman

    4   Department of Pediatrics, Beypazarı State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

  • Nurdan D. Fettah

    5   Department of Neonatology, SBU Ankara Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

  • Başak K. Gürsoy

    5   Department of Neonatology, SBU Ankara Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

  • Tugba T. Turkmenoglu

    6   Department of Pathology, Ankara Diskapi Yildirim Beyzat Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

  • Murat Çağlayan

    7   Department of Medicinal Biochemistry, University of Health Sciences Gülhane Health Sciences Institute, Ankara, Turkey
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to ascertain the effects of astaxanthin (ASX) in an experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) model using rat pups.

Study Design Forty-two pups born from five Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups as the control group, NEC + placebo (saline), and NEC + ASX. Pups in the NEC + ASX group were given 100 mg/kg/day oral ASX from day 1 to day 4 of the study. Saline of 2 mL/kg was given to the NEC + placebo group. Histopathological, immunohistochemical (caspase-3), and biochemical evaluations including the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nfr-2) activities were all performed.

Results A better survival rate and weight gain were demonstrated in the NEC + ASX group (p < 0.05). In the histopathological evaluation, the severity of intestinal damage was significantly reduced in the NEC + ASX group, as well as decreased apoptosis (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for caspase-3; p = 0.001). The biochemical analyses of intestinal tissue TOS, oxidative stress index (OSI; TOS/TAS), IL-1β, LPO, 8-OHdG, AOPP, caspase-3 (p < 0.001 for all), and TNF-α and MPO (p = 0.001 for both parameters) levels were lower in the NEC + ASX group than in the NEC + placebo group. Nrf-2, TAS, GSH, and SOD levels were higher in the NEC + ASX group than in the NEC + placebo group (p = 0.001, 0.001, <0.001, and 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion ASX treatment has been shown to effectively reduce the severity of intestinal damage in NEC due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.

Key Points

  • NEC causes extremely high morbidity and mortality, as well as many complications.

  • We investigated the effectiveness of ASX in the experimental NEC model created in rat pups.

  • First study examining the effect of ASX on the experimental NEC rat model.

Keywords

astaxanthin - necrotizing enterocolitis - bowel - rat


Publication History

Article published online:
14 April 2021

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Letter to this article:

Letter to the Editor: Astaxanthin Reduces the Severity of Intestinal Damage in a Neonatal Rat Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis eFirst
DOI: 10.1055/a-1768-3357