Hymenolepis diminuta: Experimental studies on the antioxidant system with short and long term infection periods in the rats

• Published in: Experimental parasitology Vol. 129; no. 2; pp. 158 - 163
• Main Authors: Skrzycki, Michał, Majewska, Monika, Podsiad, Małgorzata, Czeczot, Hanna, Salamatin, Rusłan, Twarowska, Joanna, Grytner-Zięcina, Barbara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.10.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; antioxidant activity; Antioxidant enzymes; antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; catalase; Catalase - analysis; defense mechanisms; enzyme activity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glutathione; Glutathione - analysis; Glutathione Peroxidase - analysis; Glutathione Reductase - analysis; glutathione transferase; glutathione-disulfide reductase; GSH; hermaphroditism; hosts; Hymenolepiasis - metabolism; Hymenolepiasis - parasitology; Hymenolepis diminuta; Hymenolepis diminuta - enzymology; Hymenolepis diminuta - metabolism; Infection; Intestine, Small - parasitology; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde - analysis; Oxidative Stress; parasitology; Protozoa; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; reactive oxygen species; small intestine; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - analysis; tapeworms; TBARS; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - analysis; thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; Time Factors; uterus; Infection; Oxidative stress; TBARS; Hymenolepis diminuta; GSH; Antioxidant enzymes; Short term; Rat; Enzyme; Rodentia; Plathelmintha; Parasite; Cestoda; Antioxidant; Experimental study; Long term; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Helmintha; Invertebrata
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.06.014

[Display omitted] ► Duration of the infection affects activity of antioxidant enzymes in Hymenolepis diminuta. ► The highest activity of antioxidant enzymes was observed in anterior segments. ► The patterns of antioxidant enzymes activity across strobila are age dependent. ► During short and long term infections H. diminuta exhibits good antioxidant defense. Many helminths cause long-lasting infections, living for several years in mammalian hosts reflecting a well balanced coexistence between host and parasite. There are many possible explanations as to how they can survive for lengthy periods. One possibility is their antioxidant systems, which can serve as defence mechanisms against host-generated oxygen radicals. Therefore, the aim of this experimental study was to examine the antioxidant system in Hymenolepisdiminuta during short (1.5months young tapeworms) and long (1.5years old tapeworms) term infection in the rat small intestine. The strobilae of H. diminuta tapeworms (14 young and three old) were divided into three pieces: the anterior part, containing the genital primordiae in the immature segments; the medial part, containing the early uterus in the mature, hermaphroditic proglottids and the terminal part with the mature gravid uterus in the gravid segments. Supernatants of these fragments were used for determination of markers of oxidative stress: concentration of thiobarbiturate reactive substances (TBARS) and of reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activity of antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD1 and SOD2), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidases (GSHPxs), glutathione transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GSHR). The results indicated changes in levels of oxidative stress markers and antioxidant enzyme activity in both the young and old forms of H. diminuta. Relatively high activity of SOD (particularly in the anterior part of young tapeworms) was observed, as was increased activity of total GSHPx and a relatively high concentration of GSH in all parts of the tapeworms. These are caused by exposure to increased amount of ROS, which are produced during the inflammatory state. Due to the high activity of antioxidant enzymes, the anterior section of young and old tapeworms is equipped with a very effective antioxidant system. Old organisms also effectively resist oxidative stress due to reduced levels of lipid peroxidation and the high activity of GST, all of which suggest good adaptation to the hostile environment in the host’s intestine.