Biochemical modifications induced in rabbits by Schistosoma mansoni antigens and the beneficial effect of carnosine treatment.

This immunological study involved individual injection of the three Schistosoma mansoni antigens (Ags). soluble egg antigen (SEA), cercarial antigen preparation (CAP) or soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) in three rabbits groups (Ag). respectively. Three other groups each received the same specific antigen conjoined with administration of L-carnosine (Ag-C). Determination of three hepatic parameters and ten serum proteins was done. These were total protein, glycogen content and glycogen phosphorylase b activity of liver as well as serum total protein and nine protein fractions [alpha2-macrglobulin; beta-galactosidase; phosphorylase b; serum albumin; fumarase; carbonic anhydrase; beta-lactoglobulin; alpha-lactalbumin and aprotinin]. Conjoined carnosine treatment produced numerous variations. SEA-I-C group presented sex decreased parameters. In CAP-I-C animals hepatic glycogen content was increased while phosphorrylase b activity was decreased as well as seven the concentration of serum parameters; total serum protein, alpha2-macroglobulin, phosphorylase b, albumin, fumarase, carbonic anhydrase, alpha-lactalbumin and aprotinin. In SWAP-I-C group the concentration of only one fraction was decreased; carbonic anhydrase. In batch A both the Ags. of the egg and cercaria, developmental stages having transient residence in the animal host, showed more affection by the specific Ag. Although, carnosine modified the results of all the three groups in batch B yet, its effect on both the egg and cercaria Ags. was still more than that of worm.