RESUMO
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if inositol hexaphosphate [IP6] enhances the immune response and disease resistance against infections due to opportunistic pathogens Aeromonas hydrophila in male albino mice
Martial and Methods: Mice were classified into three groups: first group remained as a control group. The second group was injected [i.p.] with A. hydrophia once a week for four weeks at a dose of 0.2 ml of A. hydrophia suspension [2 x 10[6] bacteria]. The third group was injected with A. hydrophia suspension in the same way as the second one and synergistically IP6 was administrated three times a week for four weeks at a total dose of 40 mg/ kg mice. Phagocytic activity, electrophoretic pattern of proteins and immunoglobulin levels were investigated. Also, activities of the respiratory burst enzymes and nitric acid synthesis were estimated
Results: Results of the second group revealed a marked increase in phagocytic activities, nitric oxide synthesis and a decrease in hepatocyte catalase, total peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. On the other hand, in the third group, administration of IP6 enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities. At the same time, nitric oxide synthesis was shown to be in a similar rate to that of the control mice. Furthermore, IP6 increased the total blood leukocyte counts and the proportion of lymphocytes, but it had a non-significant decrease of the proportion of neutrophils and monocytes
Conclusion: The toxicity of free radicals produced by the bacteria was strongly reduced by IP6 administration