Evaluation of the protective and therapeutic effects of extra virgin olive oil rich in phenol in experimental model of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis by clinical disease score, ınflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress markers

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is an inflammation-associated ischemic necrosis of the intestine. To investigate the effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and histological changes in NEC-induced newborn rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

24 rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, NEC and NEC + EVOO. NEC induction was performed using hypoxia-hyperoxia, formula feeding, and cold stress. The NEC + EVOO group received 2 ml/kg EVOO with high phenolic content by gavage twice a day for 3 days. 3 cm of bowel including terminal ileum, cecum, and proximal colon was excised.

RESULTS

Weight gain and clinical disease scores were significantly higher in the NEC + EVOO group than in the NEC group (p < 0.001). EVOO treatment caused significant decreases in IL1β, IL6 levels (p = 0.016, p = 0.029 respectively) and EGF, MDA levels (p = 0.032, p = 0.013 respectively) compared to NEC group. Significant decreases were observed in IL6 gene expression in the NEC + EVOO group compared to the NEC group (p = 0.002). In the group NEC + EVOO, the number of Caspase-3 positive cells was found to be significantly reduced (p < 0.001) and histopathological examination revealed minimal changes and significantly lower histopathological scores (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Phenol-rich EVOO prevents intestinal damage caused by NEC by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis.

Determining the effects of in ovo administration of monosodium glutamate on the embryonic development of brain in chickens

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popular flavor enhancer largely used in the food industry. Although numerous studies have reported the neurotoxic effects of MSG on humans and animals, there is limited information about how it affects embryonic brain development. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effects of in ovo administered MSG on embryonic brain development in chickens. For this purpose, 410 fertilized chicken eggs were divided into 5 groups as control, distilled water, 0.12, 0.6 and 1.2 mg/g egg MSG, and injections were performed via the egg yolk. On days 15, 18, and 21 of the incubation period, brain tissue samples were taken from all embryos and chicks. The mortality rates of MSG-treated groups were significantly higher than those of the control and distilled water groups. The MSG-treated groups showed embryonic growth retardation and various structural abnormalities such as abdominal hernia, unilateral anophthalmia, hemorrhage, brain malformation, and the curling of legs and fingers. The relative embryo and body weights of the MSG-treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control group on incubation days 18 and 21. Histopathological evaluations revealed that MSG caused histopathological changes such as necrosis, neuronophagia, and gliosis in brain on incubation days 15, 18, and 21. There was a significant increase in the number of necrotic neurons in the MSG-treated groups compared to the control and distilled water groups in the hyperpallium, optic tectum and hippocampus regions. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells in brain were found in the hyperpallium, optic tectum, and hippocampus regions; there were more PCNA(+) immunoreactive cells in MSG-treated groups than in control and distilled water groups. In conclusion, it was determined that in ovo MSG administered could adversely affect embryonic growth and development in addition to causing necrosis in the neurons in the developing brain.

The determination of the effect of in ovo administered monosodium glutamate on the embryonic development of thymus and bursa of Fabricius and percentages of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase positive lymphocyte in chicken

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly used in modern nutrition. In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of in ovo administered MSG on the embryonic development of thymus, bursa of Fabricius, and percentages of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocyte by using histological, histometrical, and enzyme histochemical methods in chickens. For this purpose, 410 fertile eggs were used. The eggs were then divided into five groups: group 1 (control group, n = 40 eggs), group 2 (distilled water-injected group, n = 62 eggs), group 3 (0.12 mg/g egg MSG-injected group, n = 80 eggs), group 4 (0.6 mg/g egg MSG-injected group, n = 90 eggs), and group 5 (1.2 mg/g egg MSG-injected group, n = 138 eggs), and injections were performed via the egg yolk. On the 18th and 21st days of the incubation, the eggs were randomly opened from each group until six live embryos were obtained. The embryos of each group were sacrificed by decapitation, and blood, thymus, and bursa of Fabricius tissue samples were taken from the obtained embryos. The MSG-treated groups were found to be retarded embryonic development of thymus and bursa of Fabricius tissue compared to the control and distilled water groups. MSG treatment also resulted in reduced lymphoid follicles count and follicle diameters in bursa of Fabricius (P < 0.05). The percentage of peripheral blood ANAE positive lymphocytes was significantly lower in the MSG-treated groups than in the control and distilled water groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, it has been found that in ovo administered MSG can adversely affect the embryonic development of thymus and bursa of Fabricius and decrease percentage of ANAE positive lymphocyte.