Temporal profile of intestinal tissue expression of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein in a rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Objectives: Necrotizing enterocolitis is a severe multifactorial intestinal disorder that primarily affects preterm newborns, causing 20-40% mortality and morbidity. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein has been reported to be a biomarker for the detection of intestinal injuries. Our aim was to assess intestinal tissue injury and the molecular expression of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein over time in a necrotizing enterocolitis model.

Tracheal occlusion and ventilation changes the nitric oxide pathway in congenital diaphragmatic hernia model.

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Tracheal occlusion (TO) stimulates fetal lung growth and maturation and reverse vascular changes responsible for pulmonary hypertension, which are related to mechanisms involving nitric oxide (NO) in CDH. We aim to evaluate the effect of TO and ventilation on NO pathways.

Combined antenatal therapy with retinoic acid and tracheal occlusion in a rat model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Aim: To investigate the effect of combined prenatal treatment with retinoic acid (RA) and tracheal occlusion (TO) on the pulmonary vascular morphology and expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and its receptors in a rat model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Material And Methods: Rats were given nitrofen at 9 days of gestation followed by no treatment (CDH), RA (CDH + RA), TO (CDH + TO), or both (CDH + RA + TO) (n = 16). We measured the median wall thickness of the pulmonary arterioles (MWT) and analyzed the expression of VEGF and its receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2).

Evaluation of the expression of I-FABP and L-FABP in a necrotizing enterocolitis model after the use of Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Background/purpose: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe intestinal disease that primarily affects premature babies, leading to high mortality and morbidity. Probiotics represent an important alternative prophylaxis for NEC but its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Moreover, intestinal and liver-type fatty acid-binding proteins (I-FABP and L-FABP) may be utilized because markers of intestinal injury, including NEC.

Ventilation causes pulmonary vascular dilation and modulates the NOS and VEGF pathway on newborn rats with CDH.

Background/purpose: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a defect that presents high mortality because of pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension. Mechanical ventilation changes signaling pathways, such as nitric oxide and VEGF in the pulmonary arterioles. We investigated the production of NOS2 and NOS3 and expression of VEGF and its receptors after ventilation in rat fetuses with CDH.

Effect of corticosteroids and lung ventilation in the VEGF and NO pathways in congenital diaphragmatic hernia in rats.

Purpose: The use of dexamethasone (Dx) stimulates growth, fetal lung maturation and can improve pulmonary hypertension in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Our aim was to evaluate the effect of Dx on the lung after fetal pulmonary ventilation in the CDH rat model.

Methods: Some groups underwent prenatal treatment with dexamethasone (0.

L-FABP and I-FABP expression in newborn rats changes inversely in the model of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Purpose: To determine the expression of hepatic L-FABP and intestinal I-FABP in an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonatal rats.

Methods: Newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: Control (C1) - exclusive breastfeeding at the first and sixth procedures (C6), NEC1 - fed formula milk and submitted to hypoxia and hypothermia at the first and sixth procedures (NEC6). The newborn pups were fed twice a day for three days, for a total of six procedures.

Standardization of pulmonary ventilation technique using volume-controlled ventilators in rats with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective: To standardize a technique for ventilating rat fetuses with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) using a volume-controlled ventilator.

Methods: Pregnant rats were divided into the following groups: a) control (C); b) exposed to nitrofen with CDH (CDH); and c) exposed to nitrofen without CDH (N-). Fetuses of the three groups were randomly divided into the subgroups ventilated (V) and non-ventilated (N-V).

Evaluation of histological changes after tracheal occlusion at different gestational ages in a fetal rat model.

Objectives: To evaluate the histological changes of tracheal cartilage and epithelium caused by tracheal occlusion at different gestational ages in a fetal rat model.

Methods: Rat fetuses were divided into two groups: a) External control, composed of non-operated rats, and b) Interventional group, composed of rats operated upon on gestational day 18.5 (term = 22 days), divided into triads: 1) Tracheal occlusion, 2) Internal control and 3) Sham (manipulated but not operated).

Validation of protocol of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis in rats and the pitfalls during the procedure.

Purpose: To describe the difficulties of implementing the protocol of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in order to obtain a larger number of newborns affected with the disease and a lower mortality.

Methods: Term Sprague-Dawley newborns rats (22 days) were divided into four groups of 12 fetuses each (n = 48): EC--breastfed newborns; IH--breastfed newborns and subjected to a stress protocol by ischemia and hypothermia; ESB--formula-fed newborns (Esbilac®, PetAg, Hampshire, IL, USA) and NEC--formula-fed newborns and subjected to stress protocol. The parameters set for the study protocol were: milk concentration (0.

Effect of nitrofen in the final stages of development of the diaphragm muscle in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the expression of myosin in muscle fibers of the diaphragm in experimental congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: Fetuses of pregnant rats were divided into four groups: External Control (EC), composed of non-manipulated rats; Nitrofen, composed of pregnant rats that received 100 mg of nitrofen (2,4-dichloro-4'nitrodiphenyl ether) diluted in olive oil on gestational day (GD) 9.5, whose fetuses developed CDH (N+) or not (N-), and Olive Oil Placebo (OO), composed of pregnant rats that received the oil on the same GD.

Corticosteroid effect upon intestinal and hepatic interleukin profile in a gastroschisis rat model.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on intestinal and liver interleukin profile in an experimental model of gastroschisis in fetal rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats at 19.5 days of gestation had its fetuses operated for the creation of gastroschisis.

The role of gut-liver axis in the restriction of intrauterine growth in a model of experimental gastroschisis.

Purpose: To evaluate the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by the expression of IR-β, IRS-1, IRS-2, IGF-IRβ and Ikappaβ in experimental model of gastroschisis.

Methods: Pregnant rats at 18.5 days of gestation were submitted to surgery to create experimental fetal gastroschisis (term = 22 days) were divided in three groups: gastroschisis (G), control (C) and sham (S).

Increased contractility and impaired relaxation of the left pulmonary artery in a rabbit model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Purpose: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with pulmonary hypertension which is often difficult to manage and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to study the pulmonary artery reactivity in an animal model of CDH.

Methods: To investigate the reactivity of the aorta and left pulmonary artery in a rabbit model of CDH, we studied the in vitro responses to the α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) and to both the muscarinic receptor agonist (ACh) and the nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP).

The cholinergic response is increased in isolated ileum from gastroschisis rat model.

Introduction: Babies with gastroschisis (G) have high morbidity rate and long hospital stay due to bowel hypomotility caused by chronic exposure of the bowel to the amniotic fluid. Our aim was to evaluate the reactivity of isolated ileum in fetal rats selected for experimental gastroschisis.

Method: G was surgically created at 18.

Assessment of the expression of IRβ, IRS-1, IRS-2 and IGF-IRβ in a rat model of intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: To investigate glomerular development and expression of insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptors in an experimental model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Material And Methods: We studied three groups of Sprague-Dawley fetuses: IUGR - restricted by ligation of the right uterine artery; C-IUGR - left horn controls, and EC - external controls (non-manipulated). Body and organs were weighed, and glomerular number and volume were analyzed.

[Experimental rat model for fetal growth restriction: effects on liver glycogen and intestinal and renal morphometry].

Purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness of the IUGR model by uterine artery ligation mimicking placental insufficiency in rats.

Methods: sprague-Dawley rat fetuses were divided into three groups: IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction), with fetuses in the right horn of pregnant rats subjected to right uterine artery ligation at 18.5 days of gestation (term = 22 days); C-IUGR (control of restriction), with control fetuses in the left horn, and EC (external control), with fetuses of intact rats.

Hydrogel protection: a novel approach to reduce bowel inflammation in experimental gastroschisis.

Objective: In gastroschisis there is herniation of the fetal bowel into the amniotic cavity that results in severe intestinal dysfunction. In order to reduce bowel exposure to amniotic fluid we used a hydrogel of N-isopropylacrylamide copolymerized with acrylic acid (P(NIPAAm-co-AAc)) to coat the herniated bowel through the use of a fibrin adhesive (Beriplast).

Study Design: Gastroschisis was created in fetuses of 31 pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats by evisceration of the bowel through a right paramedian incision in the abdominal wall on day 18.