Biochemical and apoptotic changes in the nervous and ovotestis tissues of Biomphalaria alexandrina following infection with Schistosoma mansoni

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Habib M.R.; Ghoname S.I.; Ali R.E.; El-Karim R.M.G.; Youssef A.A.; Croll R.P.; Miller M.W.

Journal: Experimental Parasitology

Publisher: Academic Press Inc.

Publication Date: June 2020

Volume / Issue: Volume 213

Article No.: 107887

ISSN: 144894

DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107887

Scopus: View on Scopus

PubMed: 32224062

Document Type: Article

Access: All Open Access; Bronze Open Access; Green Open Access

Authors and Affiliations

Habib M.R., Medical Malacology Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, 12411, Egypt; Ghoname S.I., Medical Malacology Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, 12411, Egypt; Ali R.E., Medical Malacology Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, 12411, Egypt; El-Karim R.M.G., Medical Malacology Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, 12411, Egypt; Youssef A.A., Medical Malacology Laboratory, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, 12411, Egypt; Croll R.P., Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Miller M.W., Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Abstract

Infection with trematodes produces physiological and behavioural changes in intermediate snail hosts. One response to infection is parasitic castration, in which energy required for reproduction of the host is thought to be redirected to promote development and multiplication of the parasite. This study investigated some reproductive and biochemical parameters in the nervous (CNS) and ovotestis (OT) tissues of Biomphalaria alexandrina during the course of Schistosoma mansoni infection. Antioxidant and oxidative stress parameters including catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were measured. Levels of steroid hormones, including testosterone, progesterone and estradiol, were also assessed. Finally, flow cytometry was used to compare measures of apoptosis between control snails and those shedding cercariae by examining mitochondrial membrane potential with the stain 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimi-dazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Infection with S. mansoni caused a 47.7% reduction in the net reproductive rate (Ro) of B. alexandrina. CAT activity was increased in the CNS at 21 days post infection (dpi) but by 28 dpi it was reduced below control values. Also, CAT activity increased significantly in the OT at 14, 21 and 28 dpi. In CNS tissues, NO levels were reduced at 7 dpi, increased at 14 and 21 dpi, and reduced again at 28 dpi. The overall level of lipid peroxidation gradually increased during the course of infection to reach its highest levels at 28 dpi. Steroid hormone measurements showed that concentrations of testosterone and estradiol were reduced in the CNS tissues at 28 dpi, while those of progesterone were slightly increased in the CNS and OT tissues. The percentage of cells that positively stained with JC-1was significantly increased in CNS and OT tissues of infected snails while the percentage of cells positively stained with PARP was decreased compared to controls. Together, these findings indicate that infection initiates diverse biochemical and hormonal changes leading to loss of cells responsible for egg laying and reproduction in B. alexandrina. © 2020 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

Apoptosis; Biomphalaria alexandrina; Castration; CNS; Schistosoma mansoni; Animals; Biomphalaria; Cercaria; Gonads; Host-Parasite Interactions; Nervous System; catalase; estradiol; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide adenosine diphosphate ribosyltransferase; nitric oxide; progesterone; testosterone; animal experiment; Article; biochemistry; controlled study; disease course; enzyme activity; flow cytometry; hormone blood level; lipid peroxidation; mitochondrial membrane potential; nervous tissue; nonhuman; oxidative stress; priority journal; schistosomiasis mansoni; snail; staining; testis tissue; animal; gonad; host parasite interaction; parasitology; physiology

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 17

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