Trypanosoma cruzi:: The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment during experimental infection
Trypanosoma cruzi:: The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment during experimental infection
复制标题
DOI：
10.1016/j.actatropica.2005.05.005
复制
发表时间：
2005-08-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.7
通讯作者：
do Prado, JC
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
dos Santos, CD;Toldo, MPA;do Prado, JC
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the immunomodulator dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and the possible biochemistry alterations in male and female Wistar rats. DHEA also known as the steroid of multiple actions has attracted distinct medical areas. Prior studies show that DHEA enhances immune responses against a wide range of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Furthermore, administration of DHEA seems to protect animals against obesity and diabetes. Male animals subcutaneous treated with 40 mg/kg body weight/day of DHEA displayed a significant reduction in blood parasites during parasitaemia peak, when compared to untreated animals (P0.05). Sexual dimorphism was also observed, since females displayed lesser parasitaemia levels compared to males group treated (P > 0.05) and untreated (P < 0.001). Enhanced leucocytes number was observed in control females when compared to control males (P < 0.05). DHEA treatment did not triggered any significant alterations in leucocytes levels (P>0.05). DHEA administration induced an enhanced number of macrophages in infected male (P< 0.01). DHEA administration causes a decrease in glucose (P0.05) during the treatment. These results suggest that DHEA treatment enhances the immune response as evidenced here by reduced levels of parasites. Up-regulation of the immune system by exogenous DHEA may be useful in the treatment of American tripanosomiasis. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
