Identification of surface tegumental antigens of normal and irradiated schistosomula.

Sodium dodecyl sulphate- poly acrylamide gel electronphoresis (SDS-PAGE) fractionation of tegumental surface antigens (STEG-Ags.) of 7-day cultured normal and irradiated schistosomula showed no obvious qualitative differences. The observed polypeptide bands of both normal irradiated STEG-Ags. were almost identical and have similar corresponding molecular weights. The immunoblotting assay, using different types of mouse sera, revealed similarity between the bands of both normal and irradiated STEG-Ags. recognized by each type of mouse serum. No qualitative rather than quantitative differences have been observed. The quantitative differences were reflected in intensively staining of some bands from normal STEG-Ag. rather than their corresponding bands of the same molecular weights from irradiated STEG-Ag.

Haematological changes observed in Swiss albino mice infected with normal and gamma-irradiated E. granulosus larvae.

Five groups of Swiss albino mice (Mus Musculus albinus) were intraperitoneally inoculated with 2,000 aseptic normal (control group) and gamma irradiated E. granulosus, larvae at different dose levels of 40 Kr, 60 Kr, 80 Kr and 100 Kr, respectively. Haematological studies showed a marked leucocytosis, a progressive increase in the average percentage of eosinophils as well as a great successive decrease in haemoglobin concentration through out the time of infection in control group as compared to the treated ones. Meanwhile the leucocytic count and the Haemoglobin concentration in treated mice was dose dependent as well as time dependent whereas the eosinophil percentage was only dose dependent rather than time dependent.

Effect of gamma irradiation on the rate of cyst development of E. granulosus larvae in Swiss albino mice.

White albino mice Mus Musculus albinus were intraperitoneally inoculated with aseptical normal and gamma irradiated protoscolices of E. granulosus at dose level of 40, 60, 80 and 100 Kr. Mice, either normaly infected or infected with irradiated protoscolices and sacrificed at intervals of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks, showed a marked increase in the percentage of cyst number in the liver than in the peritoneal cavity or around spleen, although by increasing the dose level to 100 Kr. no cyst were developed around the spleen. Meanwhile the % of developing cyst in the peritoneal cavity was time and dose level dependent. The mean cyst diameter showed a progressive increase with the increase of infection time and a successive decrease by increasing the dose level of gamma irradiation. An increase in the number of cyst was observed particularly in normal mice where a marked increase was noted on the 8th week post infection while a successive decrease in the mean number of cyst was observed by increasing the dose level of gamma irradiation.

Seasonal differences in the rhythmicity of human male and female lymphocyte blastogenic responses.

To test the hypothesis that there are circannual differences in mitotic activity in males and females, normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated with suboptimal concentrations of Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), Concanavalin A (Con A) and Poke weed mitogen (PWM) over two summer/winter cycles. Lymphocyte responses for the entire population were significantly higher in the summer than in the winter. The same results were observed when responses were compared between a summer and a successive winter. However, when male and child-bearing age female responses were compared, females showed a higher significant difference for PHA and Con A between summer and winter, but not for PWM. These different responses due to season may reflect a relationship between the neuroendocrine and immune systems. At the cell level, these results suggest that an inherent difference exists between female and male lymphocytes and that these lymphocytes are sensitive to seasonal changes.