Factors Known to Influence the Development of Necrotizing Enterocolitis to Modify Expression and Activity of Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase in a Newborn Neonatal Rat Model

摘要

Introduction Prematurity, formula feeding, and early weaning strongly influence enterocyte differentiation. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), an endogenous protein expressed in the intestines, is one enzyme that is affected by these factors. IAP supplementation decreases the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) injury. We, therefore, hypothesized that prematurity predisposes this population to NEC due to IAP deficiency and investigated IAP expression and function in a neonatal rat model.