title: Ancylostoma caninum: reduced glutathione stimulates feeding by third-stage infective larvae.
abstract: The resumption of feeding in vitro has been proposed as an indicator of the reactivation of development by arrested third-stage hookworm larvae. The tripeptide glutathione was tested for its ability to induce in vitro feeding by third-stage infective larvae of the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum. Reduced glutathione, but not oxidized glutathione, stimulated larval feeding in a specific, concentration-dependent manner. Feeding began at 5-10 mM, and reached a plateau at 25-50 mM. Incubation in reduced glutathione for 3 hr was sufficient to stimulate the maximum feeding response at 24 hr. Larvae began feeding within 6 hr of incubation with reduced glutathione, and feeding reached a maximum percentage by 24 hr. The reducing agents dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol failed to stimulate feeding, whereas S-alkyl derivatives of reduced glutathione were stimulatory. Reduced glutathione synergistically increased serum-stimulated feeding to greater than 90% of the sample population, and low concentrations of glutathione appeared to enhance feeding by sensitizing the larvae to a stimulatory component in serum and not by a chemical interaction with a serum component. The data suggest that reduced glutathione might participate in the transition from the free-living third-stage larva to the parasitic third-stage larva during infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hawdon
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Schad
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D005978:Glutathione