Protective effect of Bifidobacterium on endothelial nitric oxide synthase in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis model / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effect of Bifidobacterium on endothelial nitric oxide synthase and its potential protective mechanism in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis using an induced mouse model. Methods: Sixty 8-day newborn C57BL/6 mice were randomized into three groups (n=20): control group, necrotizing enterocolitis group (NEC) and Bifidobacterium intervention group (NEC+BIF). Samples were collected 3 days after NEC modeling. HE staining pathological score was used to evaluate the modeling effect; the level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the intestine was detected with Western blotting; the eNOS activity, nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O2•) content were measured by Colorimetry. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β); the protein expression of IL-6 and IL-1β was assessed by ELISA. Results: No significant difference was observed in the protein levels of eNOS between the three groups. Compared with control group, in NEC group, the eNOS activity and NO content were significantly decreased; the O2 content was substantially increased; both IL-6 and IL-1β were dramatically increased (P0.05). Conclusion: Bifidobacterium can alleviate the severity of intestinal damage in NEC mouse model, the mechanism may be related to the enhancement of eNOS activity.