Effects of dexamethasone and dehydroepiandrosterone in immunosuppressed rats infected with Cryptosporidium parvum.
Treatment of rats immunosuppressed with dexamethasone and inoculated with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were treated with dehydroepiandrosterone. A significant reduction in cryptosporidial activity was observed as determined by oocyst shedding and colonization of host tissue by parasites. Dexamethasone treatment alone resulted in decreases in T-, B- and natural killer (NK) cell responses and antibody production that, with the exception of NK-cell activity, were all reversed after administration of dehydroepiandrosterone.
Rasmussen
K R
KR
Utah State University, Logan 84322.
Martin
E G
EG
Arrowood
M J
MJ
Healey
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003049:Coccidiostats / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D003049:Coccidiostats; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D003907:Dexamethasone