Table 2.

Experimental details, strengths, and limitations of models of necrotizing enterocolitis in mice

Experimental Details	Strengths	Limitations	References
Formula feeding, hypoxia and hypothermia in preterm or term mice delivered by cesarean section.	Preterm pups.	Technical challenges of handling premature pups.	30, 44, 49, 59, 71
		Clinical NEC does not occur immediately after birth so the clinical relevance is somewhat in question.
Formula feeding, hypoxia and hypothermia in mice delivered by cesarean section, with the addition of commensal bacteria obtained from adult mice.	Preterm pups.	Difficulty in handling preterm pups.	10, 16, 68
	High NEC incidence.	Clinical NEC does not occur immediately after birth.
	Addition of commensal bacteria increases clinical relevance.
Formula feeding and hypoxia in 10-day-old mice.	Technically easier to handle the 10-day-old mice.	The model does not use preterm pups.	2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 39, 42, 64, 63, 74, 75, 83, 86, 95, 103
	NEC is induced at a time in which it is observed clinically within the postnatal period.
Ischemia and reperfusion by surgical occlusion of both superior mesenteric vessels.	More accurately is an oxidative stress model.	Clinical NEC does not involve occlusion of the mesenteric vessels, so the relevance of this model is uncertain.	61
Implantation of human fetal ileum subcutaneously into SCID mice.	Allows for interrogation of human tissue.	Requirement for human fetal tissue.	73, 34
		Technically challenging.