Dehydroepiandrosterone affects Trypanosoma cruzi tissue parasite burdens in rats.

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the predominant steroid hormone produced by adrenal glands has significant effects on the immune system. DHEA enhances immune responses against a wide range of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. In the present study, we investigated the effects of DHEA treatment during the acute phase of experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Male and female Wistar rats were infected with the Y strain of T. cruzi and treated subcutaneously with 40 mg/kg body weight/day of DHEA. Myocardial parasitism and inflammation were always present in the heart during the acute phase, in male and female infected animals, regardless of DHEA treatment, but the numbers of amastigote nests in cardiomyocytes were significantly lower in DHEA-treated rats. At the end of the acute phase, the nests became rare or virtually absent in all experimental infections. Histological analysis of the adrenal glands showed that treated males displayed an absence of parasites. DHEA treatment also resulted in reduced parasitisim of heart and adrenal glands, as indicated by fewer and smaller amastigote burdens, and less inflammatory infiltrate and tissue disorganization. DHEA treatment also resulted in thymic atrophy as measured both by reduced weight and by a reduction in the number of cultured activated thymocytes. In vitro analysis showed the number of activated macrophages was higher in treated animals. Antibody levels were monitored by complement-mediated lysis. Higher titers were observed in females when compared to males; but DHEA treatment enhanced the percentage of lysis for both sexes. These findings suggest that DHEA can play a role in the control of parasite multiplication.

• Authors: Carla Domingues Santos, Míriam Paula Alonso Toldo, Antonio Marcos Apparecida Levy, Laura Midori Kawasse, Sérgio Zucoloto, José Clóvis do Prado Jr
• Journal: Acta tropica (Acta Trop) Vol. 102 Issue 3 Pg. 143-50 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 0001-706X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 17560841 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dehydroepiandrosterone

Topics

• Animals
• Chagas Disease (drug therapy, parasitology)
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (pharmacology)
• Female
• Heart (parasitology)
• Macrophages, Peritoneal (drug effects, parasitology)
• Male
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Trypanosoma cruzi (drug effects)