Biological studies on the possible protective role of zinc and butyrate against mice liver injury induced by schistosoma mansoni

ABSTRACT

N-acetyl-transferase [N-acetylase], glucose-6-phosphatase [G-6-pase] showed significant decrease in mice liver homogenate, 16 weeks post infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Meanwhile, the effect of schistosomal infection on the previously mentioned enzymes was less in the presence of zinc acetate and sodium butyrate treatment [in combination]. Significant elevation of alkaline phosphatase [alk- pase] was clearly observed in schistosomal mice liver homogenate. The treatment with the previous agents could lead to more marked elevation in this enzyme activity. Significant increase in DNA level was observed among schistosomal as well as the treated ones. Meanwhile total protein and RNA had another pattern, since the treatment caused significant increase in RNA level and nonsignificant decrease in protein of the liver homogenate. In this work, both histopathological and electron microscopical observations revealed the usefulness of zinc acetate and sodium butyrate in combination as good protectors against mice liver injury induced by Schistosoma mansoni