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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage
Published on: January 27, 2019
Probiotics decrease the stress response and intestinal permeability of term neonates with low Apgar scores
Jie Wu1, Juanli Zhang1, Jing Chen1
1The Second Department of Neonatology, The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China.
Insights
Probiotics significantly reduced stress responses and improved intestinal permeability in term neonates with low Apgar scores. This led to better gastrointestinal function recovery and shorter hospital stays.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Term neonates with low Apgar scores often experience heightened stress responses and compromised intestinal barrier function.
- Intestinal permeability issues can exacerbate stress and hinder recovery in vulnerable infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of probiotics in mitigating stress and improving intestinal permeability in term neonates with low Apgar scores.
- To assess the impact of probiotics on key physiological stress markers and gastrointestinal recovery indicators.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 78 term neonates, divided into a control group (standard care) and an observation group (standard care + Lactobacillus Complex Capsules).
- Measurement of corticotropin-releasing factor, cortisol, D-lactate, diamine oxidase, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein levels.
- Comparison of clinical outcomes including daily milk intake, length of hospital stay, and total parenteral nutrition duration.
Main Results:
- The observation group showed statistically significant reductions in stress markers (corticotropin-releasing factor, cortisol, D-lactate, diamine oxidase, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein) compared to the control group (P<0.05).
- Neonates receiving probiotics had significantly higher daily milk intake (16.57±2.58 ml vs. 13.26±1.87 ml).
- The probiotic group experienced significantly shorter hospital stays (12.31±2.02 days vs. 14.86±2.58 days) and reduced total parenteral nutrition time (6.21±1.26 days vs. 8.86±1.78 days) (P<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Probiotics administration is effective in ameliorating stress responses in term neonates with low Apgar scores.
- Probiotics significantly improve intestinal permeability, contributing to enhanced gastrointestinal function recovery.
- The use of probiotics in this cohort facilitates faster recovery and reduces the need for prolonged medical interventions.
Abstract:
To observe the effect of probiotics on the stress responses and intestinal permeability of term neonates with low Apgar scores, the present study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 78 term neonates (42 males and 36 females). In the control group (n=38), total parenteral nutrition and comprehensive treatment (anti-infection therapy) were provided. In the observation group (n=40), the neonates were administered Lactobacillus Complex Capsules in addition to the control group treatment. The corticotropin-releasing factor level was determined using ELISA; cortisol levels were determined using a radioimmunoprecipitation assay; D-lactate and diamine oxidase levels were determined using ultraviolet spectrometry; procalcitonin levels were determined using ECL; and C-reactive protein levels were determined using a protein analyzer. Following treatment, the levels of all parameters were lower in the observation group compared with the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In the observation group, the daily milk intake was 16.57±2.58 ml, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (13.26±1.87 ml), while the length of hospital stay and total parenteral nutrition time, which were 12.31±2.02 and 6.21±1.26 days, respectively, in the observation group, were significantly shorter than those of the control group (14.86±2.58 and 8.86±1.78 days, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.001). The results of the present study suggested that probiotics can ameliorate the stress response and intestinal permeability of term neonates with low Apgar scores, thereby, facilitating gastrointestinal function recovery.
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