Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Attenuates Hyperoxia-Induced Lung Injury in a Newborn Rat Model

Background/Objectives: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a leading cause of morbidity in preterm infants, and effective preventive strategies are lacking. This study investigated the protective effect of orally administered Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 in a neonatal rat model of hyperoxia-induced lung injury.

Methods

Newborn Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly allocated to normoxia control (NC), hyperoxia control (HC), and hyperoxia with probiotic supplementation (HP) groups. The HC and HP groups were exposed to 90% oxygen from postnatal day 1 to 14. L. reuteri DSM 17938 (3.3 × 104 CFU/day) was administered orally from postnatal day 3. Pulmonary outcomes were assessed by histological analyses including mean alveolar volume, radial alveolar count, von Willebrand factor immunofluorescence staining, and TUNEL assay. Gut and pulmonary microbiome composition was evaluated by 16S rRNA sequencing, and intestinal butyrate and glutathione levels were measured.