RESUMO
The present investigation was an attempt to study the enhancememt effect of L-carnosine (beta alanyl-l-histidine) on the influence of vaccination on healthy (non-infected) rabbits treated with Schistosoma mansoni egg antigens, cercariae antigens, and worms antigens as protective agents against infection. This study involved individual injection of three Schistosoma mansoni antigens: soluble egg antigen (SEA), cercarial antigen preparation (CAP) and soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP), in three rabbit groups, respectively. Three other groups each received the same specific antigen in conjunction with the administration of L-carnosine, biochemical parameters including DNA, RNA, DNA/RNA ratio concentrations in addition ATPase, and acetyl cholinesterase activities were measured in liver, heart, kidney and brain in all groups. Elevation in most parameters was observed in the immunized groups. Carnosine treatment of rabbit groups immunized with SEA, CAP and SWAP in comparison to the non-carnosine-treated immunized groups resulted in amelioration the changes of DNA, RNA, ATPase and acetyl cholinesterase activities in most groups. L-carnosine has a beneficial effect in the amelioration of the changes in biochemical parameters as a result of S. mansoni antigen immunization.
RESUMO
Administration of dietary antioxidants has been suggested to protect against the subsequent liver tissue damage. The present data to explore the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effect of anserine nitrate and /or zinc chloride against γ-irradiation induced hepatotoxicity. Healthy male albino rats were exposed to γ-irradiation from Co60 gamma cell 3500 at dose level (5.7 Gy) at a dose rate 2.67 rad/sec after 24 h and 14 days on the liver and to determine both prophylactic and therapeutic role of intraperitoneally administrated. Exposure to γ- irradiation induced a significant increase in levels of ALP, ALT and AST, while levels of glucose, total proteins, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, total, direct and indirect bilirubin and serum fractions were significantly decreased except for total lipids level which was almost not affected. Administration of anserine and/or zinc prior or after radiation exposure was found to offer protection against γ-irradiation induced hepatocellular damage and oxidative stress in rats, probably by exerting a protective effect against hepatocellular necrosis via its free radical scavenging and membrane stabilizing ability.
RESUMO
Despite effective chemotherapy, schistosomiasis remains the second largest public health problem in the developing world. Currently, vaccination is the new strategy for schistosomiasis control. The presence of common antigenic fractions between Schistosoma mansoni and its intermediate host provides a source for the preparation of a proper vaccine. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the nucleoprotein extracted from either susceptible or resistant snails to protect against schistosomiasis. The vaccination schedule consisted of a subcutaneous injection of 50 µg protein of each antigen followed by another inoculation 15 days later. Analyses of marker enzymes for different cell organelles [succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose-6-phosphatase, acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase] were carried out. Energetic parameters (ATP, ADP, AMP, phosphate potentials, inorganic phosphate, amino acids and LDH isoenzymes) were also investigated. The work was extended to record worm and ova counts, oogram determination in the liver and intestine and the histopathological pattern of the liver. The nucleoprotein of susceptible snails showed reduction in worm and ova counts by 70.96 percent and 51.31 percent, respectively, whereas the nucleoprotein of resistant snails showed reductions of 9.67 percent and 16.77 percent, respectively. In conclusion, we found that the nucleoprotein of susceptible snails was more effective in protecting against schistosomiasis.