The intestinal damage induced by lipid soluble meconium subfraction is profound compared to the intestinal damage induced by water soluble meconium subfraction

BackgroundIt is unclear which substances in meconium are responsible for intestinal damage in gastroschisis. An experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of the lipid or water soluble subfractions of meconium on the intestines of gastroschisis in a chick model.MethodsMeconium was pooled, homogenated, rota-evaporated dry and diluted. Meconium subfractions were obtained from water soluble and lipid soluble extracts of the meconium. Five days old fertilized chick embryos were used and divided into 5 groups: control, sham, water soluble meconium subfraction, lipid soluble meconium subfraction and whole meconium. All embryos were extirpated on the 18 days and the intestines were harvested for histopathological examination. Serosal thickness was measured under light microscopy.ResultsSerosal thickness of the meconium (36.36 ± 2.8 μm), the water soluble meconium (14.15 ± 0.93 μm) and the lipid soluble meconium (23.88 ± 1.69 μm) subfractions groups were significantly increased compared with the control (7.47 ± 0.68 μm) and the sham (7.48 ± 0.71 μm) groups (p < 0.001). Serosal thickness of the lipid soluble meconium subfraction group was significantly increased compared with the water soluble meconium subfraction group (p < 0.001). Serosal thickness of the meconium group was significantly increased compared to both the water and the lipid soluble meconium subfraction groups (p < 0.001).ConclusionLipid soluble meconium subfraction induces more intestinal damage compared to water soluble meconium subfraction.