Trypanosoma cruzi infection alters glucose metabolism at rest and during exercise without modifying the morphology of pancreatic islets in rats.

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of Trypanosoma cruzi infection on pancreatic morphology and glucose metabolism at rest and during exercise. Wistar rats were randomized into control (CG=10) and infected (IG=10) groups. The IG animals were inoculated with T. cruzi Y strain (300,000 trypomastigotes/50 g). After 9 weeks, the animals were subjected to glucose (OGTT) and insulin (ITT) tolerance tests and a treadmill running protocol. Blood glucose, lactate and time to fatigue were determined. After euthanasia, the pancreases were removed for morphological and biochemical analyses. The IG presented abnormal glucose kinetics in OGTT and a similar glucose curve in ITT compared to the CG. During the exercise test, the IG showed anticipation of time to fatigue. At the point of fatigue, no difference was found in blood glucose and lactate between the groups. There was a significant correlation between lactate levels and the time to fatigue. The IG presented marked pancreatic inflammation, fibrosis and protein oxidation. The number of β cells in the IG animals was not reduced. T. cruzi infection impaired pancreas morphology and glucose metabolism at rest and during exercise in rats, which could constitute an additional mechanism in the induction of exercise intolerance in Chagas' disease.

• Authors: Rômulo D Novaes, Reggiani V Gonçalves, Arlete R Penitente, André Talvani, Clóvis A Neves, Antônio J Natali, Izabel R S C Maldonado
• Journal: Pathology, research and practice (Pathol Res Pract) Vol. 208 Issue 8 Pg. 480-8 (Aug 15 2012) ISSN: 1618-0631 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 22749578 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Chagas Disease (blood, parasitology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Exercise Test
• Fibrosis (pathology)
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Islets of Langerhans (metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Oxidative Stress
• Parasitic Diseases, Animal (blood, parasitology)
• Physical Conditioning, Animal (physiology)
• Protein Carbonylation (physiology)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Rest (physiology)
• Trypanosoma cruzi (physiology)