Pre-treatment of newborn mouse pups with VEGFR2-specific kinase inhibitors before NEC induction resulted in elevated mortality, increased severity of intestinal necrosis, and reduced intestinal microvascular network density in comparison to untreated controls.246 Additionally, the literature revealed that pups exposed to NEC stressors showed a decreased intestinal microvascular network density compared to dam-fed controls, with the phenotype being exacerbated by the concurrent blockade of VEGFR2 signaling. This evidence concerns the gene KDR and necrotizing enterocolitis.