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Investigation of Ghrelin Effects in Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Sabriye Korkut1, Ahmet Özdemir2, Sara Erol3
1Department of Neonatology, University of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, 06800 Ankara, Türkiye.
American Journal of Perinatology
|September 24, 2025
Summary
Ghrelin pretreatment worsened outcomes in an experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) model, decreasing survival rates and worsening clinical and macroscopic intestinal scores. Further research is needed to understand ghrelin
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease in premature infants.
- The role of ghrelin, a peptide hormone, in NEC pathogenesis is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of exogenous ghrelin pretreatment on an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Main Methods:
- Neonatal rats were divided into four groups: NEC, ghrelin-treated NEC (GH-NEC), control, and ghrelin-treated control (GH-Control).
- NEC was induced via hypoxia, hypothermia, and hyperosmolar formula.
- Ghrelin was administered intraperitoneally; clinical, macroscopic, histopathological, and biochemical analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- NEC groups showed significantly higher clinical, macroscopic, and histological scores than controls.
- The GH-NEC group had worse clinical and macroscopic scores and a significantly lower survival rate compared to the NEC group.
- Histopathological scores and apoptotic cell counts did not differ significantly between GH-NEC and NEC groups.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin pretreatment exacerbated clinical outcomes and macroscopic intestinal damage in an experimental NEC model.
- Ghrelin administration was associated with reduced survival rates in the NEC model.
- Further investigation is required to elucidate the complex role of ghrelin in NEC.
