The aim of this study was to assess the effects of
iron supplementation on oxidative stress and on the activity of the
adenosine deaminase (ADA) in rats experimentally infected by Trypanosoma evansi. For this purpose, 20 rats were divided into four experimental groups with five animals each as follows: groups A and B were composed by healthy animals, while animals from groups C and D were infected by T. evansi. Additionally, groups B and D received two subcutaneous doses of
iron (60 mg kg(-1)) within an interval of 5 days. Blood samples were drawn on day 8 post
infection in order to assess hematological and biochemical variables. Among the main results are: (1) animals from group C showed reduced erythrogram (with tendency to
anemia); however the same results were not observed for group D; this might be a direct effect of free
iron on trypanosomes which helped to reduce the
parasitemia and the damage to erythrocytes caused by the
infection; (2)
iron supplementation was able to reduce NOx levels by inhibiting iNOS, and thus, providing an
antioxidant action and, indirectly, reducing the ALT levels in groups Band D; (3) increase FRAP levels in group D; (4) reduce ADA activity in serum and erythrocytes in group C; however, this supplementation (5) increased the
protein oxidation in groups B and D, as well as group C (positive control). Therefore,
iron showed
antioxidant and
oxidant effects on animals that received supplementation; and it maintained the activity of E-ADA stable in infected/supplemented animals.