Oral intake of bovine lactoferrin alleviates intestinal injury induced by perinatal hypoxia and hypothermia in newborn rats

Abstract

Introduction/Objectives To investigate whether oral administration of lactoferrin attenuates intestinal injury induced by perinatal hypoxia and hypothermia.

Methods Newborn Wistar rat pups were exposed to perinatal asphyxia, followed by global hypothermia. The pups were distributed into two groups: lactoferrin group (LG) – pups that received lactoferrin orally for seven days (20 mg/day), control group (CG) – pups that received normal saline orally during first seven days of life. After seven days macroscopic examination of the bowels and pathohistological analyses of tissue samples have been performed.

Results The incidence of macroscopic injuries was significantly lower in LG group compared to CG. The incidence of pathological findings, as well as the values of injury scores used to assess the intensity and extent of intestinal injury at microscopic level were significantly lower in LG group.

Conclusions Lactoferrin attenuates perinatal hypoxia/hypothermia-induced intestinal injury in newborn rats.

Keywords: lactoferrin; intestinal injury; perinatal hypoxia; hypothermia; neonatology