Evaluation of vitamin C effects on enzyme antioxidant defense in acute phase of Chagas Disease in mice experimentally infected with Trypanosoma Cruzi QM2 strain

• Grant number: 15/09561-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Luciamare Perinetti Alves Martins
• Grantee: Ludmyla Toller Cocco
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Marília (FAMEMA). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The infection in Chagas disease exhibit an acute phase, with high parasitaemia and generation of amastigote nests, and a chronic phase with cardiac nerve plexus injury and esophageal myenteric, caused by the immune action of Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan, leading to disease presentations like cardiomegaly, megacolon and megaesophagus. The mechanism of damage occurs by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the activation of macrophages by T. cruzi. Chagas disease has high potential tissue damage and the use of antioxidant therapy such as the use of vitamin C can be beneficial for increased total antioxidant capacity of the host. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of vitamin C supplementation at a dose equivalent to 500 mg / day, on the enzymatic antioxidant defense and their effect on the total antioxidant capacity of the tissues in the context of the evolution of the acute phase of Chagas disease. So, 48 "Swiss" male mice 20 days of age will be divided into four groups of 12 animals. The groups will be denominated A, B, C, and D. Groups A and B will not be infected, with B receiving vitamin C; and groups C and D will be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi QM2 strain, with D receiving vitamin C. The groups B and D will receive this treatment for 60 days. Four animals from each group will be euthanized on the 15th, 30th and the 60th day and fragments of the heart, thigh muscle and liver will be collected to determine the activity of catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and compare the antioxidative activity of each tissue using the technique ", Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power" (FRAP). The purpose of this research is find results that favor or contraindicate supplementation with vitamin C.