Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wg55d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-22T11:23:39.722Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Endocrine responses of protein-malnourished rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

C. P. J. Ash ,
D. W. T. Crompton  and
P. G. Lunn
C. P. J. Ash
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Molteno Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE
D. W. T. Crompton
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Molteno Institute, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EE
P. G. Lunn
Affiliation:
M.R.C. Dunn Nutritional Laboratory, Downhams Lane, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1XJ
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

During the course of a primary infection of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in protein-malnourished rats, plasma concentrations of corticosterone were found to decrease from 0.89±0.03 at the start of the infection to 0.28±0.08μmol/l, 9 days post-infection (p.i.). Similarly, adreno-corticotrophic hormone levels were also observed to fall from 62.09±12.06 to 20.54±1.81 by 5 days p.i. and to 35.12±16.61 nmol/l by 9 days p.i. However, no significant changes were seen in the dry weight of the adrenal glands other than those expected in relation to changes in body weight. Concentrations of both plasma tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine were also severely depleted over the same period from 5.33±0.34 to 1.09±0.42 and 104.43±10.4 to 34.12±8.95 nmol/l respectively. This was considered not to be due to any change in the capacity of the plasma to bind these hormones. Results for insulin were highly variable, but overall were lower from protein-malnourished rats than results documented for well-nourished rats and a reduction from 18.07±3.17 to 6.08±2.18μunits/ml, 9 days p.i. was observed. The results are discussed in relation to the role of these hormones in protein metabolism in a protein-malnourished animal.

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 91 , Issue 2 , October 1985 , pp. 359 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alleyne, G. A. O., Hay, R. A., Picou, D. I., Stanfield, J. P. & Whitehead, R. W. (1977). Protein Energy malnutrition. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
Ash, C., Crompton, D. W. T. & Lunn, P. G. (1984). Impact of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda) on the serum albumin and amino acid concentrations of rats fed adequate or protein-deficient diets. Parasitology 90, 157–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrett, J. (1981). Biochemistry of Parasitic Helminths. London: macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, K. R. (1969). Effect of deficient diets on corticosteroid synthesis by rat adrenals in vitro and its relationship to infections with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Journal of Endocrinology 43, 333–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coward, W. A. & Lunn, P.G. (1981). The biochemistry and physiology of kwashiorkor and marasmus. British Medical Bulletin 37, 19–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crompton, D. W. T., Walters, D. E. & Arnold, S. E. (1981). Changes in the food intake and body weight of protein-malnourished rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda). Parasitology 82, 23–38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Crompton, D. W. T., Arnold, S., Coward, W. A. & Lunn, P. G. (1978). Nippostrongylus (Nematoda) infection in protein-malnourished rats. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 72, 195–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garland, J. T. & Dauohaday, W. H. (1972). Feedback inhibition of pituitary growth hormone in rats infected with Spirometra mansonoides. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 139, 497–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keymer, A., Crompton, D. W. T. & Sahakian, B. J. (1983). Parasite-induced learned taste aversion involving Nippostrongylus in rats. Parasitology 86, 455–60.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lunn, P. G. & Austin, S. (1983 a). Dietary manipulation of plasma albumin concentration. Journal of Nutrition 113, 1791–802.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lunn, P. G. & Austin, S. (1983 b). Differences in nitrogen metabolism between protein-deficient and energy-deficient rats with similarly restricted growth rates. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 27, 242–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lunn, P. G., Whitehead, R. G., Baker, B. A. & Austin, S. (1976). The effect of cortisone acetate on the course of development of experimental protein-energy malnutrition in rats. British Journal of Nutrition 36, 537–50.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lunn, P. G., whitehead, R. G., Hay, R. W. & Baker, B. A. (1973). Progressive change in serum cortisol; insulin and growth hormone concentrations and their relationship to the distorted amino acid pattern during the development of kwashiorkor. British Journal of Nutrition 29, 399–422.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mueller, J. F. (1972). Further studies on sparganum growth factor in the hypophysectomized rat: response to large numbers of sparagana. Journal of Parasitology 58, 438–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nawa, Y. (1979). Increased permeability of gut mucosa in rats infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. International Journal for Parasitology 9, 251–5.Google ScholarPubMed
Ovington, K. S. (1985). Dose-dependent relationships between Nippostrongylus brasiliensis populations and rat food intake. Parasitology 91, 157–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Phares, C. K. (1982). The lipogenic effect of the growth factor produced by plerocercoids of the tapeworm, Spirometra mansonoides, is not the result of hypothyroidism. Journal of Parasitology 68, 999–1003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raiti, S. (1979). Human ACTH Radioimmwnoassay. National Pituitary Agency, NIAMDD, Suite 501–9, 210 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201–3472, USA.Google Scholar
Tulp, O. L., Krupp, P. P., Danforth, E. & Horton, E. S. (1979). Characteristics of thyroid function in experimental protein malnutrition. Journal of Nutrition 109, 1321–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed