In vivo studies on the effect of two pyrethroid insecticides on acid ribonuclease activity

In view of the excessive use of Cybolt and Permethrin in Egypt and abroad, the present study was devoted to study their effect[s] on liver and spleen acid RNase activity following oral administration of single and repeated doses, of these insecticides. The results revealed that the exposure to these insecticides caused alteration in the activity of acid RNDase, either in the liver or spleen. In view of the central importance of these organs, the present findings should not be underestimated since the exposure to the tested insecticides would not only cause hepatotocicity, but would also alter the protein metabolism in these organs which could affect both the defence and immune responses of the host

Glutathione and related enzymes in fascioliasis before and after treatment with bithionol

The present work is an update evaluation of the glutathion status in patients with established fascioliasis before and after treatment with bithionol. Blood glutathione [GSH], erythrocyte glutathione S-transferase [GST] and serum gamma-glutamyl transferase [GGT] activities were studied. After treatment, the variations observed in these parameters were restored to the corresponding normal control values confirming the toxic features resulting from fascioliasis and suggesting no insult of bithionol on the parameters studied. We recommend the use of serum GGT, blood GSH and erythrocyte GST for the early detection of the therapeutic responses in fascioliasis

Effect of polyclonal B-lymphocyte activation and Schistosoma mansoni infection on splenic B-glucuronidase enzyme in mice

The effect of stimulation of spleen cells on the B-glucuronidase [BG] activity, in mice was investigated. The study was performed on 4 groups of mice: LPS group [150 micro g/mice], Schistosoma mansoni group, LPS and S.mansoni and control group. In the LPS group the maximum increase in BG activity was observed after one week of infection; it dropped to the normal level after two weeks and remained so till the fourth week. In the S.mansoni group, the maximum BG activity was obtained after one week of infection; it gradually decreased in the subsequent weeks, but remained at levels significantly higher than normal. In the LPS and S.mansoni group, the levels of the BG activity were similar to those of the LPS group except that after four weeks, the activity became significantly higher than the normal level. The relative changes in B-lymphocytes in the spleen [as demonstrated by immunofluorescent technique] were in agreement with BG findings. It could be concluded that activation of BC enzyme after stimulation of immunocompetent cells is a consequence of their proliferation and is not antigen specific. This can be a part of the host defence against offending pathogens