Relationship between histopathological lesions and oxidative stress in mice infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis

Abstract

Abstract This study describes changes in oxidative stress (OS) parameters in mice experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus costaricensis, which causes abdominal angiostrongyliasis. For this, 28 Swiss mice were used, divided into two groups (G1 and G2), with 14 animals each. Of these, eight were infected with ten infective larvae each, by gavage, and six were used as a control group. Mice from G1 and G2 were euthanized at 14 days and 24 days post-infection, respectively. Tissue samples were used for histopathological analysis and blood (serum) samples were taken to assess the levels of proteins, non-protein thiols (NPTs) and nitric oxide (NO), from centrifugation and subsequent collection of aliquots of the supernatant. Among OS parameters, infected mice in both groups had higher NO levels than the control group, due to the presence of: eosinophil infiltrate in the liver and intestine; pancreatitis; and intestinal granuloma. However, the infected mice of both groups showed a reduction in the levels of NPTs, in relation to the control group, due to the presence of: eosinophilic infiltrate in the liver and intestine; and intestinal granuloma. Our results suggest that A. costaricensis infection has important effects on the intestine, liver and pancreas, and the analyses were performed from the tissue of these organs. The mechanisms for these changes are related to the decrease in the body's main antioxidant defences, as demonstrated by the reduction of NPTs, thus contributing to the development of more severe tissue damage. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between histopathological lesions and markers for OS.