Priti Pun1, Jesica Jones1, Craig Wolfe2, Douglas D Deming1, Gordon G Power2, Arlin B Blood1,2. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California. 2. Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Plasma nitrite serves as a reservoir of nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity. Because nitrite ingestion is markedly lower in newborns than adults, we hypothesized plasma nitrite levels would be lower in newborns than in adults, and that infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disease characterized by ischemia and bacterial invasion of intestinal walls, would have lower levels of circulating nitrite in the days prior to diagnosis. METHODS: Single blood and urine samples were collected from 9 term infants and 12 adults, 72 preterm infants every 5 d for 3 wk, and from 13 lambs before and after cord occlusion. RESULTS: Nitrite fell 50% relative to cord levels in the first day after birth; and within 15 min after cord occlusion in lambs. Urinary nitrite was higher in infants than adults. Plasma and urinary nitrite levels in infants who developed NEC were similar to those of preterm control infants on days 1 and 5, but significantly elevated at 15 and 20 d after birth. CONCLUSION: Plasma nitrite falls dramatically at birth while newborn urinary nitrite levels are significantly greater than adults. Acute NEC is associated with elevated plasma and urinary nitrite levels.
BACKGROUND: Plasma nitrite serves as a reservoir of nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity. Because nitrite ingestion is markedly lower in newborns than adults, we hypothesized plasma nitrite levels would be lower in newborns than in adults, and that infants diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a disease characterized by ischemia and bacterial invasion of intestinal walls, would have lower levels of circulating nitrite in the days prior to diagnosis. METHODS: Single blood and urine samples were collected from 9 term infants and 12 adults, 72 preterm infants every 5 d for 3 wk, and from 13 lambs before and after cord occlusion. RESULTS:Nitrite fell 50% relative to cord levels in the first day after birth; and within 15 min after cord occlusion in lambs. Urinary nitrite was higher in infants than adults. Plasma and urinary nitrite levels in infants who developed NEC were similar to those of preterm control infants on days 1 and 5, but significantly elevated at 15 and 20 d after birth. CONCLUSION: Plasma nitrite falls dramatically at birth while newborn urinary nitrite levels are significantly greater than adults. Acute NEC is associated with elevated plasma and urinary nitrite levels.
Authors: Jesica A Kanady; A Wilson Aruni; Janet R Ninnis; Andrew O Hopper; Jamie D Blood; Benjamin L Byrd; Leighton R Holley; Michael R Staker; Shandee Hutson; Hansel M Fletcher; Gordon G Power; Arlin B Blood Journal: Nitric Oxide Date: 2012-07-26 Impact factor: 4.427
Authors: Jesica A Jones; Janet R Ninnis; Andrew O Hopper; Yomna Ibrahim; T Allen Merritt; Kim-Wah Wan; Gordon G Power; Arlin B Blood Journal: JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr Date: 2013-07-26 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: Juliana O Fernandes; Sandra O C Tella; Ivan S Ferraz; Luiz A D Ciampo; Jose E Tanus-Santos Journal: Mol Cell Biochem Date: 2020-11-25 Impact factor: 3.396
Authors: Taiming Liu; Hobe J Schroeder; Meijuan Zhang; Sean M Wilson; Michael H Terry; Lawrence D Longo; Gordon G Power; Arlin B Blood Journal: Nitric Oxide Date: 2016-05-25 Impact factor: 4.427