Epidermal growth factor reduces the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in a neonatal rat model

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal disease of prematurely born infants. Maternal milk plays an important protective role against NEC development and is the major source of epidermal growth factor (EGF) for neonates. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of physiology: Gastrointestinal and liver physiology 2002-01, Vol.282 (1), p.G156-G164
Main Authors: Dvorak, Bohuslav, Halpern, Melissa D, Holubec, Hana, Williams, Catherine S, McWilliam, Debra L, Dominguez, Jessica A, Stepankova, Renata, Payne, Claire M, McCuskey, Robert S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Disease Models, Animal
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - drug therapy
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - epidemiology
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing - prevention & control
Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics
Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology
Gene Expression - physiology
Ileum - pathology
Incidence
Milk
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics
RNA, Messenger - analysis
Transforming Growth Factor alpha - genetics
Weight Gain - drug effects
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Summary:Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal disease of prematurely born infants. Maternal milk plays an important protective role against NEC development and is the major source of epidermal growth factor (EGF) for neonates. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of orally administered EGF on the incidence of NEC in a neonatal rat model. Newborn rats were artificially fed either with growth factor-free rat milk substitute (RMS) or RMS supplemented with 500 ng/ml of EGF (RMS+EGF). Experimental NEC was induced by exposure to asphyxia and cold stress. Development of NEC was evaluated by gross and histological scoring of damage in the ileum. Ileal EGF receptor (EGF-R), EGF, and transforming growth factor-alpha mRNA expression was assessed by RT competitive-PCR, and the EGF-R was localized by immunohistochemistry. EGF supplementation of formula reduced the incidence and severity of NEC in rats (13/16 RMS vs. 4/13 RMS+EGF). Ileal EGF-R mRNA expression was markedly increased in the RMS group compared with RMS+EGF. Enhanced EGF-R expression in the RMS group was localized predominantly in the epithelial cells of injured ileum. These data suggest a new potential therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of NEC.
ISSN:0193-1857
1522-1547
DOI:10.1152/ajpgi.00196.2001