Effect of BN 50727 on pathological findings and tissue platelet activating factor levels during ileal ischemia in newborn piglets

Abstract The role of platelet activating factor (PAF), a potent ulcerogen mediator in the digestive tract, is thought to be important in the genesis of necrotizing enterocolitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of PAF in the perpetuation and aggravation of gastrointestinal damage resulting from limited ischemia in the 2-day-old piglet using a natural PAF antagonist (BN 50727). Animals were separated into six groups: U 4 , controls; S, sham operated animals undergoing laparotomy; I 4 and I 9 , ligation of the mesenteric vessels in the last ileal loop; IT 4 and IT 9 , same procedure together with treatment with BN 50727 (50 mg/kg), orally before and after surgery and intraperitoneally during surgery. Animals were killed at day 4 in groups U 4 , S, I 4 and IT 4 and at day 9 in groups I 9 and IT 9 , with histological studies and mediator measurements taken. Macroscopic and histological lesions of intestinal wall in groups I 4 , I 9 , IT 4 and IT 9 were similar to those of human neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and did not vary according to the absence or the presence of BN 50727 treatment ( P = .7, I 4 v IT 4 and P = .9, I 9 v IT 9 ). Peritoneal bands were significantly reduced in treated groups IT 4 and IT 9 as compared with untreated ones I 4 and I 9 ( P = .003). Mucosal PAF levels in the terminal ileum were higher in group I 4 than in groups U 4 or I 9 . In the upper loop, mucosal PAF levels were comparable in all groups. An increase in stool PAF levels was observed only in group I 9 (26.4 ng/g v 4.7 ng/g, I 9 v U 4 + S, P 4 , 7.2 ng/g; IT 4 , 4.5 ng/g; IT 9 , 6.8ng/g). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α ) measurements did not exhibit any difference between groups. Using a PAF antagonist, the role of PAF in the aggravation of intestinal damage after ischemia was not remarkable because treatment did not induce any modifications of parietal intestinal lesions. PAF antagonists appeared to reduce significantly the local peritoneal consequences of local inflammation.