Abstract

To observe the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the intestinal tissues of premature infants who had necrotizing enterocolitis is the main objective of the study. From January 2018 to July 2021, 14 intestinal tissue samples of preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were selected as the necrotizing enterocolitis group. 14 intestinal tissue samples of preterm infants with congenital intestinal atresia during the corresponding period were selected as the control group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed on pathological specimens from the two groups. The expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the intestinal tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemical methods. Gross morphology, histopathology grade and aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression in the intestinal tissue samples were compared between the two groups. Intestinal wall hyperemia and edema, villus structure destruction, reduced crypts, higher inflammatory cell infiltration and histopathology grade were higher in the necrotizing enterocolitis group than in the control group and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The expression level of aryl hydrocarbon receptor was lower in the necrotizing enterocolitis group than in the control group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression level was negatively correlated with the histopathology grade. The lower the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor, the more severe the intestinal injury, thus, suggesting that aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation may be a protective factor against necrotizing enterocolitis.