effect of praziquantel and histamine and serotonin blockers on portal pressure and hepatic granuloma in experimental schistosomiasis mansoni

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of Schistosomiasis mansoni infestation on the morbidity of the disease expressed in terms of portal pressure, liver granuloma diameter and blood levels of histamine and serotonin. These parameters were evaluated in infected untreated and treated mice either Praziquantel [PZQ] alone or combined with histamine and serotonin blockers. A total of 922 Swiss albino CFW1 mice were included in the study. The results of the present work showed that treatment with PZQ caused a significant increase in portal pressure, histamine and serotonin blood levels with a significant decrease in hepatic granuloma diameter. Combination of PZQ with histamine [H1] blocker or serotonin antagonist [5-HT2 blocker] produced significant reduction in portal pressure and granuloma diameter without affecting the blood level of histamine or serotonin respectively when compared with PZO treated group. On the other hand, combination of PZQ with H2 blocker had no significant effect on any of the parameters studied. These findings point to role of H1 or 5-HT2 blockers in the control of schistosome disease morbidity particularly in cases subjected to specific chemotherapy such as Praziquantel

Effect of chronic medication with verapamil on glucose tolerance in experimental animals

The effect of chronic medication with verapamil on glucose tolerance was studied in two groups of rabbits; the first one received verapamil orally in a dose of 11 mg/kg and in the second group the drug was administered intravenously in a dose of 0.4 mg/kg. In both groups, the drug was given daily for one month. At the end of medication period, oral glucose tolerance test was studied one hour post glucose administration by collecting blood for estimation of blood glucose and insulin. The results after treatment were compared with normal glucose and insulin values by collecting blood from unmedicated rabbits before drug administration and one hour post glucose administration. Blood glucose level was determined according toTrinder[1969].Assay of serum insulin was conducted by radioimmunoassay.Chronicoral administration of verapamil did not significantly affect the serum glucose and insulin levels. On the other hand, chronic intravenous administration of the drug produced a significant negative correlation between insulin and glucose levels. The inhibitory effectof verapamil on insulin release could be related to the inhibitory effect of the drug on calcium entry to the beta cells of the pancreas