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Effects of testosterone on Heterakis spumosa infections in mice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

A. Harder ,
F. Wunderlich  and
P. Marinovski
A. Harder
Affiliation:
Institute of Parasitology, Pflanzenschutzzentrum Monheim, Bayer- Werk, Leverkusen
F. Wunderlich
Affiliation:
Division of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
P. Marinovski
Affiliation:
Division of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Summary

This study describes the effects of testosterone (Te) on the intestinal nematode Heterakis spumosa in mice. The course of Heterakis infections is apparently under Te-control. At high circulating Te-levels as occurring in intact males, Te-treated females, and Te-treated castrated males, the period of release of Heterakis eggs in mouse faeces is greatly extended and the number of eggs released per unit time is markedly elevated in comparison to low Te-levels, as found in untreated females and castrated male mice. Also, the onset of the patent period occurs earlier in Te-treated mice. Testosterone also accelerates development and growth of both female and male worms of Heterakis in mice. Thus, young adult male worms can be observed in the upper colon of Te-treated castrated male mice on day 21 post-infection (p. i.), whereas, at that time, only L4 larvae are present in Te-untreated male castrates. Testosterone also favours the survival of nematodes in hosts. In untreated male castrates, the number of worms present on day 7 p.i. (L2 larvae) is approximately two thirds higher than that found on day 21 p.i. However, such a reduction in the number of worms does not occur in Te-treated castrated mice during the same period of time. The early phases of the life-cycle of Heterakis, i.e. hatching in the small intestine and final settling of L2 larvae in the upper colon are independent of Te. Also, Te does not affect motility and even slightly reduces the fecundity of adult female worms in vitro. Our data suggest that Te and/or Te-metabolites and/or Te-induced host factor(s) accelerate the development and growth of H. spumosa and favour the survival of Heterakis in the colon of mice.

Keywords

Heterakis spumosaintestinal nematodesgender-dependent infectionssex hormonestestosterone
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 105 , Issue 2 , October 1992 , pp. 335 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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