Effect of verapamil on the development of chronic experimental Chagas' disease

In previous work, we have shown that the chronic administration of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, ameliorated the mortality, pathology, and biochemical alterations associated with acute murine Chagas' disease. To extend these studies to an established chronic model, C3H/Hej mice were infected with the Sylvio X10/4 clone. This clone does not cause symptomatic acute disease but does induce cardiac pathology incorporating several pathological features of human chagasic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac pathology was assessed at 60, 90, and 180 days postinfection. There was a significant decrease in the degree of inflammation and fibrosis in the group infected and treated with verapamil. Myocardial beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase (AC) activity was determined 180 days postinfection. In the infected group not treated with verapamil, there was no significant change in the maximum rate of conversion of ATP to cAMP (Vmax) or in the concentration of agonist giving 50% of Vmax (apparent Kact) for isoproterenol (ISPN)-dependent AC activation. The increase in Vmax for ISPN determined in the presence of 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp[NH]p) was consistently lower in infected than in uninfected mice, suggesting that infection altered the potential synergistic activation of AC by the guanine nucleotide. In the infected group treated with verapamil, there was a slight increase in the Vmax for ISPN. However, there was a marked enhancement of the synergistic contribution of Gpp(NH)p. These observations suggest that verapamil had preserved that aspect of the AC complex mediating guanine nucleotide sensitive activation of AC. Collectively, the observations in the acute and chronic models of murine Chagas' disease suggest that verapamil may be a useful adjunct in treatment.

Trypanosoma cruzi: infection of cultured human endothelial cells alters inositol phosphate synthesis

Infection of cultured endothelial cells with Trypanosoma cruzi alters intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. To help understand the biochemical basis for this phenomenon, we determined the influence of infection on inositol phosphate formation in a broken cell preparation. Inositol phosphates participate in the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+. In uninfected endothelial cells, bradykinin guanosine 5'-O-thiophosphate (GTP tau S), and calcium all stimulated inositol phosphate (IP1), inositol bisphosphate (IP2), and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) formation within 5 sec of incubation. At longer periods of incubation with GTP tau S and bradykinin, formation of IP1 was linear for 30 sec, whereas the rate of IP2 and IP3 generation was maximal at 20 and 5 sec, respectively. Second, infection markedly changed these aspects of inositol phosphate generation. First, unstimulated (basal) levels of IP1 and IP3 were markedly increased over those levels in membranes of uninfected cells. Infection decreased the rate of formation for the three inositol phosphates in response to GTP tau S and bradykinin. Finally, infection diminished the magnitude of inositol phosphate synthesis in response to Ca2+ for IP1, IP2, and IP3, respectively. Studies on G proteins using cholera and pertussis toxin were carried out to determine if the infection-associated changes in inositol phosphate generation could be attributed to functional changes in these regulatory proteins known to participate in the activation of phospholipase C. Infection markedly decreased the magnitude of cholera and pertussis toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation, as compared to control uninfected cells. Incubation of uninfected endothelial cells with cholera and pertussis toxin also decreased the magnitude of cholera and pertussis toxin ADP ribosylation. Despite the similar effects of infection and toxin treatment on subsequent toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation, toxin treatment did not influence inositol phosphate generation. Collectively, these results demonstrate an influence of infection on receptor-dependent and -independent synthesis of inositol phosphates, possibly by an action on phospholipase C. The results help to explain the apparent infection-associated increase in basal Ca2+ previously observed and suggest that interference with signal transduction may be a consequence of the presence of the parasite.

Verapamil ameliorates clinical, pathologic and biochemical manifestations of experimental chagasic cardiomyopathy in mice

The influence of long-term verapamil administration on the consequences of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice was studied with regard to animal mortality, morbidity, myocardial pathologic features and myocardial beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity. Verapamil administration dramatically decreased the mortality rate from 60% to 6% during the 70 day period of infection. Three clinical stages of infection were evident. In the acute stage (17 days after infection with maximal parasitemia), verapamil treatment not only decreased the incidence of myocardial disease (fibrosis and inflammation), but also protected myocardial beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity. In addition, there was no increase in total body weight, which was regarded as an index of right-sided heart failure. In the subacute stage (30 to 60 days after infection), administration of verapamil continued to decrease myocardial disease and preserve beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity. In addition, verapamil ameliorated the morbidity and mortality associated with this stage of infection. The chronic stage of infection was characterized by a decrease in myocardial disease and in beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity. Thus, independent of the state of infection, long-term verapamil treatment enhanced beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase activity. In addition, verapamil ameliorated the morbidity associated with infection. Although the relation among these various effects of verapamil in the setting of T. cruzi infection remains to be determined, collectively the results suggested that verapamil administration attenuated the consequences of T. cruzi infection.

Effects of glucagon on Na+, Cl-, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ transports in cortical and medullary thick ascending limbs of mouse kidney

The effects of glucagon on transepithelial Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ net fluxes were investigated in isolated perfused cortical (cTAL) and medullary (mTAL) thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop of the mouse nephron. Transepithelial ion net fluxes (JNa+, JCl-, JK+, JCa2+, JMg2+) were determined by electron probe analysis of the collected tubular fluid. Simultaneously the transepithelial voltage (PDte) and the transepithelial resistance (Rte) were recorded. In cTAL-segments (n = 8), glucagon (1.2 x 10(-8) mol.1-1) stimulated significantly the reabsorption of Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+: JNa+ increased from 204 +/- 20 to 228 +/- 23 pmol.min-1.mm-1, JCl- from 203 +/- 18 to 234 +/- 21 pmol.min-1.mm-1, JCa2+ from 0.52 +/- 0.13 to 1.34 +/- 0.30 pmol.min-1.mm-1 and JMg2+ from 0.51 +/- 0.08 to 0.84 +/- 0.08 pmol.min-1.mm-1.JK+ remained unchanged: 3.2 +/- 1.3 versus 4.0 +/- 1.9 pmol.min-1.mm-1. Neither PDte (16.3 +/- 1.5 versus 15.9 +/- 1.4 mV) nor Rte (22.5 +/- 3.0 versus 20.3 +/- 2.6 omega cm2) were changed significantly by glucagon. However, in the post-experimental periods a significant decrease in PDte and increase in Rte were noted. In mTAL-segments (n = 9), Mg2+ and Ca2+ transports were close to zero and glucagon elicited no significant effect. The reabsorptions of Na+ and Cl-, however, were strongly stimulated: JNa+ increased from 153 +/- 17 to 226 +/- 30 pmol.min-1.mm-1 and JCl- from 151 +/- 23 to 243 +/- 30 pmol.min-1.mm-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neurochemical measurements in the brains of mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei (TREU 667)

Trypanosoma brucei brucei (TREU 667) infected mice were used as a model of African trypanosomiasis, a disease in which neuropsychiatric manifestations occur. To study the possible neurochemical basis of these abnormalities, we measured brain acetylcholine receptor numbers, activities of the cholinergic enzymes, choline acetyltransferase (CAT), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and regional concentrations of the monoamines, dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE), and their acid metabolites, homovanillic acid (HVA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in mice infected with T. b. brucei. There were no significant changes in CAT or AChE activities or acetylcholine receptor numbers at either 35 or 50 days post-infection (PI). At day 35 PI, the only significant finding was a decrease in 5-HIAA concentration in the brain stem, a change which did not persist to day 50 PI. At day 50 PI there were, however, significant increases in DA concentration in the brain stem and NE concentrations in the hippocampus, cerebellum, brain stem and striatum. To establish a chronic relapsing murine model, mice were treated with diminazene aceturate (Berenil) at day 60 PI and killed 60 days later (120 days PI). In these mice, 5-HT concentrations were significantly increased in the hypothalamus and decreased in the cortex. In addition, 5-HIAA concentrations were increased in the striatum and hypothalamus and HVA concentrations were increased in the striatum and hippocampus. Our data, taken together with that of others, suggests that there are alterations in the monoaminergic, but not in the cholinergic, neuronal system, in African trypanosomiasis. These data may form the basis for the neuropsychiatric abnormalities that are associated with this disease.

Differential effects of ADH on sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium transport in cortical and medullary thick ascending limbs of mouse nephron

The effect of antidiuretic hormone (arginine vasopressin, AVP) on transepithelial Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ net transports was investigated in medullary (mTAL) and cortical (cTAL) segments of the thick ascending limb (TAL) of mouse nephron, perfused in vitro. Transepithelial net fluxes (JNa+, JCl-, JK+, JCa2+, JMg2+) were determined by electron probe analysis of the collected tubular fluid. Transepithelial potential difference (PDte) and transepithelial resistance (Rte) were measured simultaneously. cTAL segments were bathed and perfused with isoosmolal, HCO3- containing Ringer solutions, mTAL segments were bathed and perfused with isoosmolal HCO3- free Ringer solutions. In cTAL segments, AVP (10(-10) mol.l-1) significantly increased JMg2+ and JCa2+ from 0.39 +/- 0.08 to 0.58 +/- 0.10 and from 0.86 +/- 0.13 to 1.19 +/- 0.15 pmol.min-1 mm-1 respectively. Neither JNa+ nor JCl-, (JNa+: 213 +/- 30 versus 221 +/- 28 pmol.min-1 mm-1, JCl-: 206 +/- 30 versus 220 +/- 23 pmol.min-1 mm-1) nor PDte (13.4 +/- 1.3 mV versus 14.1 +/- 1.9 mV) or Rte (24.6 +/- 6.5 omega cm2 versus 22.6 +/- 6.4 omega cm2) were significantly changed by AVP. No significant effect of AVP on net K+ transport was observed. In mTAL segments, Mg2+ and Ca2+ net transports were close to zero and AVP (10(-10) mol.l-1) elicited no effect. However NaCl net reabsorption was significantly stimulated by the hormone, JNa+ increased from 107 +/- 33 to 148 +/- 30 and JCl- from 121 +/- 33 to 165 +/- 32 pmol.min-1 mm-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Isospora belli infection: treatment with pyrimethamine

Isosporiasis is an uncommon but important diarrheal disease of humans that, like cryptosporidiosis, is life-threatening in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Isospora belli infection responds rapidly to therapy with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but patients with AIDS have a high rate of adverse reactions to this therapy. The cases of two patients with AIDS, sulfonamide allergy, and I. belli infection are reported. They were treated successfully with pyrimethamine alone, 75 mg/d, and recurrence was prevented with daily pyrimethamine therapy, 25 mg/d. In patients with AIDS with sulfonamide allergy or intolerance, pyrimethamine alone seems to be a reasonable alternative therapy for I. belli infection.

Alterations in intracellular calcium following infection of human endothelial cells with Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells increased basal cellular calcium levels from 55 to 110 nM, as monitored with the fluorescent probe, fura-2. It also influenced intracellular calcium such that consistently higher total levels were observed in response to bradykinin, angiotensin II and norepinephrine, as compared to similarly treated uninfected cells. However, bradykinin and angiotensin II-dependent increases in calcium, when considered as the absolute increment or fold elevation over basal, were significantly lower in infected endothelial cells. Infection also influenced changes in calcium levels due to agents that operate independently of plasma membrane receptors. In the presence of ionomycin, the magnitude and rate of rise of intracellular calcium were decreased; additionally the calcium peak was delayed and the subsequent decline slowed. Similar to the results with bradykinin and angiotensin II, infection decreased both the increment in and fold stimulation of intracellular calcium in response to ionomycin. In contrast, infection altered only the total calcium stimulated in response to oligomycin; neither the fold stimulation of, nor increment in intracellular calcium was affected. These results indicate that (1) infection by T. cruzi alters calcium homeostasis in endothelial cells under basal and stimulated conditions; (2) both receptor-dependent and receptor-independent mechanisms are affected by infection. The possible contribution of altered calcium homeostasis induced by T. cruzi in the pathogenesis of chagasic cardiomyopathy is considered.

Myocardial adenylate cyclase activity in acute murine Chagas' disease

We have studied the influence of myocardial infection with Trypanosoma cruzi on the beta-adrenergic adenylate cyclase complex in mouse myocardial membranes. The maximal rate of cAMP generation (Vmax) and the concentration of agonist associated with 50% of the maximal activity (apparent Kact) were determined for a series of agents. Six days after infection, the Vmax for isoproterenol significantly declines without a change in the apparent Kact. After 21 days of infection, both the Vmax and apparent Kact for isoproterenol are reduced. At 6 and 21 days of infection, the affinity of the beta-receptor for [125I]iodocyanopindolol declines from 0.84 to 3.6 and 3 nM, respectively, while the receptor density increases with the duration of infection from 33 to 57 and 82 fmol/mg protein, respectively. The Vmax (but not the apparent Kact) for forskolin and Mg2+- and Mn2+-associated activities declines also after 21 days. Another adenylate cyclase activity, which was stimulated by the nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide Gpp(NH)p, declines in relation to the duration of infection. Inhibitors of adenylate cyclase activity were also studied. Inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by adenosine and by Gpp(NH)p (in the presence of forskolin) declines after 21 days of infection. The results suggested that the coupling proteins Ns and Ni, which mediate stimulatory or inhibitory control of receptors to adenylate cyclase activity, might be altered by infection. As monitored by cholera toxin- and pertussis toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation of their respective substrates, which include Ns and Ni proteins, respectively, there are declines in the availability of both substrates as a result of T. cruzi infection. For infected membranes, the addition of NADP enhances the magnitude of cholera toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation and renders the magnitude of pertussis toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation equal to that observed in uninfected membranes. The results support the hypothesis that infection with T. cruzi results in profound generalized alterations of the adenylate cyclase complex at several different sites.

Increased Ca++ or mg++ concentration reduces relative tight-junction permeability to Na+ in the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of rabbit kidney

We have tested whether increased Ca++ and Mg++ concentrations have an effect on transepithelial voltage (PDte) and transepithelial resistance (Rte) in isolated perfused cortical thick ascending limbs (cTAL) of rabbit kidney. The divalent cations added at 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mmol.l-1 to the lumen or peritubular bath perfusate led to a concentration-dependent increase in Rte. The maximal response in Rte was observed between 5 and 10 mmol.l-1. No significant change in active transepithelial potential difference (PDte) was observed. The increase in Rte still occurred when the transcellular current was reduced by Ba++ (3 mmol.l-1) added to the lumen perfusate. This suggests that the increase in Rte caused by Ca++ and Mg++ is due to a modification of the paracellular shunt pathway. In the absence of active transport, i.e. when furosemide (5.10(-5) mol.l-1) was added to the lumen perfusate. Ca++ and Mg++ reduced the transepithelial diffusion potential generated by a NaCl gradient established across the epithelium, and thus produced a reduction of the relative permeability for Na+ over Cl- (PNa+/PCl-) of the paracellular shunt pathway. This indicates that divalent cations increase Rte by reducing the sodium permeability of the tight junctions. The observed Ca++ and Mg++ induced reduction of the sodium permeability of the paracellular pathway corresponds to a decrease in net Na+ reabsorption by 5-10%. Since it has been demonstrated that peptide hormones such as parathyrin (PTH) modulate divalent cation and NaCl reabsorptions, in a second series of experiments we tested the effects of PTH (2-20 USP.l-1) and dbcAMP (10(-3) mol.l-1) on PDte and Rte of isolated perfused cTAL segments of rabbit nephron. Neither Rte nor PDte were affected by PTH or dbcAMP.

In vitro assessment of antimicrobial agents against Toxoplasma gondii

We have modified a method of quantitating growth of Toxoplasma organisms by measuring incorporation of [3H]uracil into Toxoplasma-infected, differentiated L6E9 rat myocytes and have found that low-dose pyrimethamine (0.1 microgram/ml) and sulfadiazine (25 micrograms/ml) are synergistic. Pyrimethamine at higher concentrations (0.5 and 1.0 micrograms/ml) inhibits uptake to the same degree as the low-dose pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine combination. Spiramycin was effective only at high concentrations (200 micrograms/ml) and with prolonged incubation of greater than 72 h. Clindamycin and several of its analogues, methotrexate and difluoromethylornithine, were all ineffective and showed no additive effect with either pyrimethamine or sulfadiazine. Spirogermanium, an experimental antineoplastic and antiprotozoan agent, was effective only at concentrations close to those toxic to the system. 5-Fluorouracil was effective even at 0.1 microgram/ml. At 0.01 microgram/ml it was synergistic with pyrimethamine (0.1 microgram/ml), and the combination was as effective as high-dose pyrimethamine (1.0 microgram/ml).

Western blot analysis of the antibody response of patients with AIDS and toxoplasma encephalitis: antigenic diversity among Toxoplasma strains

We used immunoblotting to ascertain if toxoplasma encephalitis in disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could be diagnosed by the appearance of characteristic antibodies recognizing specific Toxoplasma antigens. The profile of antibodies to Toxoplasma was examined in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with chronic and acute toxoplasmosis with or without HIV infection. Many Toxoplasma antigens were recognized by all sera; the majority were presumably surface proteins, as determined by 125I labeling. All sera recognized antigens at 38, 35, 28, and 26 kilodaltons. No specific antibody or pattern of antibodies distinguished between groups of patients. A 120-kilodalton antigen recognized by sera from Atlanta was not, however, seen in most sera from New York. Study of the recognition of the antigens of different strains of Toxoplasma gondii (RH, C56, T100) by the same human sera demonstrated strain-specific antigenic differences. These strain variations may account for the antibody diversity among the patients studied.

Infection of L6E9 myoblasts with Trypanosoma cruzi alters adenylate cyclase activity and guanine nucleotide binding proteins

We studied the consequences of infection of L6E9 myoblasts with T. cruzi on the adenylate cyclase complex to test the hypothesis that infection alters the functional properties of the guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins, Ns and Ni. Stimulating activities of adenylate cyclase due to isoproterenol, isoproterenol plus Gpp(NH)p, or forskolin (activities mediated by Ns) are not altered by infection. However, inhibitory activities mediated by Ni [Gpp(NH)p, acetylcholine, and adenosine inhibition of forskolin-dependent adenylate cyclase activity] are compromised by infection. The reduction in adenosine's inhibition of forskolin-dependent adenylate cyclase activity is seen throughout the effective concentration range of adenosine. Pertussis toxin does not change basal or stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in infected cells compared with normal uninfected cells, nor does it alter the inhibiting action of adenosine. To evaluate the coupling proteins (Ns and Ni) involved in the stimulation and inhibition of adenylate cyclase more directly, cholera- and pertussis-toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation studies were performed. The incorporation of [32P]ADP ribose in the presence (specific) or absence (nonspecific) of the toxins was markedly decreased in membranes prepared from infected cells. However, in membranes prepared from infected or uninfected cells previously treated with pertussis toxin, there was a significant reduction in specific pertussis-toxin dependent ADP ribosylation. The infection-associated diminution in toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation complements the impaired inhibition of adenylate cyclase data. Collectively, the data further substantiate an infection-associated alteration in the adenylate cyclase complex, probably at the level of the guanine nucleotide binding proteins.

Trypanosoma cruzi: inhibition by spirogermanium hydrochloride

Spirogermanium is an antineoplastic agent that has been shown to be useful for the treatment of a variety of solid tumors and Plasmodium falciparum infection. We found that this agent, at concentrations of 1-10 micrograms/ml, markedly inhibited the growth of epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. This inhibition of growth was seen in liver infusion tryptose cultures as well as on agar where colonial growth was inhibited markedly. Ultrastructural studies demonstrated that affected organisms were round and swollen and contained vacuoles, lamellar structures, and multivesicular bodies. Spirogermanium also significantly decreased the growth of intracellular amastigotes in myotubes. Pretreatment of myotubes with the agent protected them from infection with trypomastigotes but tachyzoites of Toxoplasma sp. readily infected pretreated cells. These data suggest that spirogermanium may be useful as a chemotherapeutic agent against T. cruzi.

Analogues of torasemide--structure function relationships--experiments in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle of rabbit nephron

The aim of the present study was to examine compounds related to torasemide with respect to their ability to block the equivalent short circuit current, corresponding to the rate of chloride reabsorption, in isolated in vitro perfused cortical thick ascending limbs of Henle of the rabbit. The torasemide molecule was modified with respect to the anionic sulfonylurea group, and the secondary amine linked to the pyridine ring. Our results indicate that only few of the tested 48 torasemide-related compounds were able to inhibit from both epithelial sides like torasemide. Only few of the tested compounds were equally effective as torasemide from the lumen side. Some analogues were acting only from the luminal side and some only from the peritubular side. The correlations between structure and potency of inhibition from the luminal side allow the following conclusions: The secondary amine moiety linked to the pyridine ring (toluidine in case of torasemide) can be replaced by a cycloalkylamine or, with some loss of inhibitory potency, by alkylamines. The inhibitory potency is increased with the number of C-atoms in the cycloalkylamine substituted compounds (optimum C7 to C8) and is also depending on the length of the alkylamines (optimum C4). The secondary amine seems to be required since nitrogen cannot be replaced by -S- or -SO2-. The sulfonylurea group cannot be substituted by other anionic groups such as -SO-3 or -COO-. If the pyridine ring is replaced by a NO2-substituted phenyl ring, the inhibitory potency from the luminal side is lost. However, these compounds act still (with some loss of potency) from the peritubular side.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Torasemide inhibits NaCl reabsorption in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle

Torasemide (1-isopropyl-(4-(3-methylphenylamino)pyrid-3-yl)urea) is a new diuretic. The present study examines the effects of this substance in the isolated perfused thick ascending limb (TAL) of mouse and rabbit kidney. In cortical TAL segments of the rabbit, torasemide added to the lumen perfusate led to a fall in equivalent short circuit current ( = transepithelial voltage divided by transepithelial resistance, which corresponds to the rate of chloride reabsorption) with a half maximal inhibition concentration of 3 X 10(-7) mol/l. This effect was accompanied by a hyperpolarization of the luminal and basolateral membrane from -78 to -81 mV and from -72 to -81 mV, respectively. A similar hyperpolarization of both membrane voltages was also observed in medullary TAL segments of the mouse. Torasemide, added to the basolateral perfusate of cortical TAL segments of the rabbit, also inhibited the equivalent short circuit current. However, 3 X 10(-5) mol/l were necessary for a half maximal inhibition. The fall in the equivalent short circuit current was accompanied by a significant increase in transepithelial resistance from 34 to 38 omega cm2, by an increase in the fractional resistance of the basolateral membrane, and by a hyperpolarization mainly of the basolateral membrane. Again, similar results were obtained in the medullary TAL segment of the mouse. The strong inhibitory effect of torasemide from the lumen side can be explained by an interference with the Na+ 2Cl-K+ carrier in the luminal membrane. In fact, torasemide apparently is structurally related to furosemide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protection against fatal murine Chagas' disease with a Leishmania braziliensis panamensis stock

Past attempts to immunize mice against a fatal Trypanosoma cruzi infection utilizing related hemoflagellates have been unsuccessful. In the present study, C57BL/6 mice received a footpad inoculation of 10(7) promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis panamensis. Six and 9 weeks subsequent to this inoculation mice were infected intraperitoneally with the Tulahuen strain of T. cruzi. All immunized mice survived infection over the 6-month period of observation whereas control mice regularly died. There was an early transient T. cruzi parasitemia in the immunized mice. Culture of blood and organs as well as histopathological examination of various organs 6 months post-challenge failed to yield any evidence of T. cruzi. Heat-killed and freeze-thawed extracts of promastigotes did not confer any protection. These observations raise the possibility that certain leishmanial species might confer natural protection against a T. cruzi infection and that this information could be useful in the development of a vaccine.

Cl(-)-channel blockers in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. Structure activity relationship

On the basis of our findings with diphenylamine-2-carboxylate we have searched for compounds which possess an even higher affinity for the Cl(-)-channels in the basolateral membrane of the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle. To quantity the inhibitory potency, we performed measurements of the equivalent short circuit current, corresponding to the secondary active transport of Cl- and measurements of the voltage across the basolateral membrane. A survey of 219 compounds reveals that relatively simple modifications in the structure of diphenylamine-2-carboxylate led to very potent blockers such as 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate which inhibits the short circuit current half maximally (IC50) at 8 X 10(-8) mol/l. A comparison of the structural formula and the respective IC50 values leads to several empirical conclusions: The potent compounds are lipophilic due to the apolar residue (e.g. phenyl- or cycloalkyl group). Replacing this part of the molecule by an aliphatic chain (up to 4 C-atoms) leads to inactive compounds. Most of the inhibitors are secondary amines. Linking other than with -NH- between the phenyl ring and the benzoic acid results in inactive compounds. Tertiary amines, such as in case of 2-(N,N-diphenylamine)benzoic acid or N-methylphenylamine-benzoic acid are poorly active. The carboxylate group of the benzoate moiety must be in ortho position to the amino group. Introduction of substituents into the benzoate moiety e.g. -NO2 (in meta position to the carboxylate group), or by -Cl (in para position to the carboxylate group) results in an increase of inhibitory potency. A -CH2-, -C2H4-, -C3H6- spacer between the amino bridge and the phenyl ring increases the affinity for the Cl(-)-channel by several orders of magnitude. The above described structure activity relationship renders it likely that these chloride channel blockers possess several sites of interaction: The negatively charged carboxylate group, the secondary amine group which probably carries a positive partial charge, and for the very potent agents (nos. 130, 143, 144, and 145) an additional negative partial charge at the respective -Cl or -NO2 substituent. Finally, also an apolar interaction with an cycloalkyl or cycloaryl residue seems to be required, and this site of interaction has a defined spacing from the secondary amino nitrogen.

Trypanosoma brucei: infection in murine diabetes

The course of infection due to Trypanosoma brucei infection was observed in genetically diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. A strain of T. brucei, TREU 667, was used which produces a chronic infection in C57BL/6(B6) mice lasting greater than 60 days. Genetic diabetic mice (+db/+db) are obese, and have elevated blood glucose levels, normal levels of insulin, and impaired cell-mediated immunity. Their littermates (m+/m+, m+/+db) are of normal weight, and are normoglycemic and immunocompetent. The infected +db/+db mice lived significantly longer than the nondiabetic littermates. In contrast to this finding, streptozotocin-induced diabetic B6 mice developed higher parasitemia and had shorter survival times than control B6 mice. Continuous treatment with insulin of these streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice led to normalization of blood glucose and a significant reduction of parasitemia. While hyperglycemia may be associated with higher parasitemia and death in streptozotozin-induced diabetes, genetic factors may play an additional role in the genetic models.

Acetylcholinesterase levels in skeletal muscle of mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in skeletal muscle from susceptible (A/J) and resistant (C57BL/6) mice infected with the Brazil strain (myotropic) of Trypanosoma cruzi. There was a 60% decrease in activity in skeletal muscle obtained from A/J mice 20 days post-infection as compared to controls. There was no decrease in AChE activity in skeletal muscle obtained from infected C57BL/6 mice 20 and 150 days post-infection. Histologic examination of skeletal muscle from infected A/J mice revealed marked necrosis, pseudocysts, and minimal inflammation. Similar examinations in C57BL/6 mice revealed marked inflammation in the absence of necrosis and parasites. These data provide additional biochemical support that denervation hypersensitivity is an important concomitant of Chagas' disease and that it is already present during the acute stage. Additionally, it may support the notion that the presence of the parasite mediates these abnormalities.

Abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation in acute murine Chagas' disease

Chronic Chagasic heart disease has many features characteristic of other congestive cardiomyopathies, including ventricular and atrial chamber enlargement, hypertrophy, focal scarring, and mural thrombi. Histologically, there is often lymphocytic inflammation, spotty necrosis, and few parasites. Although immunologic mechanisms have been invoked to explain the development of myocardial degeneration, there have been suggestions that the focal alterations in the heart are secondary to abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation. Based on work from our laboratories which has demonstrated microvascular hyperreactivity in several other models of congestive cardiomyopathy, we investigated whether the cardiac microcirculation of mice acutely infected with Trypanosoma cruzi was also abnormal. We perfused animals at 15-17 days post-infection with silicone rubber which fills the arterioles, capillaries, and venules of the beating heart. After clearing the tissue, we observed numerous areas of focal vascular constriction, microaneurysm formation, dilatation, and proliferation of microvessels which were not present in control animals. These lesions were similar to those we have observed in other congestive cardiomyopathies. Since at this stage of infection there is minimal cardiac degeneration or fibrosis, the presence of these vascular lesions even early in Chagas' disease, may be significant for the pathogenesis of focal myocardial damage. These observations during acute infection provide additional support for the suggestions of others that the myocardial microcirculation is abnormal in Chagas' disease.