Relationship between schistosomicidal drug efficacy, gonadal steroid hormonal changes and state of disease immunopathology in murine schistosomiasis mansoni

• Published in: Pharmacological research Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 359
• Main Authors: Botros, S S, Salama, S H, Estafan, M Y, Gomaa, N E, Metwally, A A, Ebeid, F A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-05-1990
• Subjects: Animals; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Estradiol - blood; Female; Male; Mice; Nitroquinolines - pharmacology; Oxamniquine - administration & dosage; Oxamniquine - pharmacology; Praziquantel - administration & dosage; Praziquantel - pharmacology; Progesterone - blood; Schistosoma mansoni - drug effects; Schistosomiasis mansoni - blood; Schistosomiasis mansoni - immunology; Schistosomiasis mansoni - pathology; Schistosomicides - pharmacology; Testosterone - blood
• ISSN: 1043-6618
• DOI: 10.1016/1043-6618(90)90734-U

The schistosomicidal efficacy of praziquantel (2 x 500 mg/kg), oxamniquine (1 x 100 mg/kg) and combined one-third the curative dose of each of them (333 mg/kg praziquantel + 33 mg/kg oxamniquine), were correlated to gonadal steroid hormonal changes and state of disease immunopathology, in mice infected with 100 Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) cercariae. Maximum efficacy recorded with combination regimen particularly 4 weeks after treatment, was accompanied by maximum reduction in granuloma volume (65%), least fall in testosterone level (-56.2 and -60.2% in male and female mice respectively) and increased progesterone level (+33.9 and +81.5% in male and female mice respectively). These findings revealed a potentiated effect of combination therapy on mature infection and the possible involvement of gonadal steroid hormones in affecting the efficacy of schistosomicidal drugs and state of disease immunopathology.