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

Pharmacol Res. 1990 May-Jun;22(3):359-70. doi: 10.1016/1043-6618(90)90734-u.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • 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*

Substances

  • Nitroquinolines
  • Schistosomicides
  • Oxamniquine
  • Testosterone
  • Progesterone
  • Estradiol
  • Praziquantel