Carbon Monoxide Production by Nonbacterial Sources after Heme Feeding of Neonatal Rats

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Abstract
We determined the relative potential for nonbacterial CO production after oral heme feeding of 12-hour-old rats. The intestinal flora was eliminated by treatment with kanamycin, ampicillin, and neomycin. CO excretion (VeCO) was measured after oral administration of heme (0.64 µmol/animal). Antibiotic treatment alone did not significantly affect the VeCO of rats gavaged with saline. Heme administration increased (p < 0.05) the VeCO during t = 1–11 h with a peak at 3 h. Antibiotic treatment reduced this VeCO (p < 0.05) during t = 2–8 h, but its level (peak at t = 2–3 h) was still significantly (p < 0.05) above its nonheme control. The results confirm that bacterial degradation of heme is an important source of CO in suckling rats not pretreated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, oral heme feeding of gut-sterilized animals yielded transiently significantly increased VeCO. HO-mediated degradation of enteral heme is a likely nonbacterial source of CO and possibly bilirubin in the neonate.