Abstract
To investigate a correlation between a cause of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis and granulocytes, an experiment was performed with a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion of the intestine. Blood samples were taken from rats with and without leukopenia and the blood count was studies. The measurement of leukocyte function was done during the ischemia-reperfusion period. Injury to the intestines of rats with and without leukopenia was also pathologically observed. The results were as follows : (1)depletion of the granulocyte count was noted in the ischemia-reperfusion period. (2)The ability of garanulocytes to generate O_2~ showed a decrease at 15 min after reperfusion, but had recovered by 60 min after. (3)An increase in the blood concentaration and an increase in mucosal injury were observed in the rats without leukopenia during the reperfusion period, and these changes were less severe in the rats with leukopenia. (4)Leukocyte infiltration into the intestinal mucosa was also observed during the reperfusion period. We conclude that granulocyte activation inducing ischemia-reperfusion presents in an early phase of this experiment, and the leukocyte activation is related to the injuries observed during the reperfusion period.
