Effects of carnosine on bilharzial infestation in hamsters: biochemical and histochemical studies.

Abstract

We tested the ability of carnosine to improve some liver disorders induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasite in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Results indicate that parasitic infestation induced elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase and procollagen III peptide as a marker of liver fibrosis. Administration of carnosine (10 mg/day) for 15 days either concurrent with infection, 2 and 4 weeks post-infestation was effective in reducing differential worm burden. It was also effective in renormalizing blood glucose level depending on the time course. The most evident effect of carnosine was on serum procollagen III peptide level, which was lowered in infested groups treated with carnosine. Histopathological studies confirmed the potential use of carnosine for intervention in schistosomiasis.

• Authors: Kawther M Soliman, Mohammed Abdel Aziz, Yasser H Nassar, Samy Abdel-Sattar, Afaf El-Ansary
• Journal: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & molecular biology (Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol) Vol. 131 Issue 3 Pg. 535-42 (Mar 2002) ISSN: 1096-4959 [Print] England
• PMID: 11959036 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Collagen Type III
• Carnosine
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alkaline Phosphatase

Topics

• Alkaline Phosphatase (metabolism)
• Animals
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (metabolism)
• Carnosine (therapeutic use)
• Collagen Type III (metabolism)
• Cricetinae
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Granuloma (drug therapy, pathology)
• Liver (enzymology, parasitology, pathology)
• Male
• Mesocricetus (parasitology)
• Schistosoma (drug effects, metabolism)
• Schistosomiasis mansoni (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase (metabolism)