title: [Pharmacologically immunosuppressed mice as a model for study of opportunistic parasite infections].
abstract: Immunodeficient animals are important research models for studies in parasitology, oncology and immunology. Immunosuppressive drugs have been experimentally used to obtain a state of immunodeficiency in mice. This investigation aimed to quantify the circulating T and B cells of mice treated with the immunosuppressive agents dexamethasone (Dx), cyclosporine (CsA) and cyclophosphamide (CY), as well as to observe the behaviour of lymphocytic populations in the spleen of these animals. Blood samples were collected for counting the total peripheral blood leukocytes and T and B lymphocytes using flow cytometry. Total leukocytes of mice treated with the three drugs during all study showed a significant decrease when compared to the results of the control group. The proportion of B and T lymphocytes from the treated animals also decreased significantly. Spleen sections revealed a moderate decrease in the cellularity of the white pulp and the development of lymphocyte apoptosis in mice from groups treated with CY and Dx. Results showed that the proposed experimental models demonstrated to be suitable for studies of murine immunodeficiency.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Paulista, Rua Dr Bacelar 1212, São Paulo 04026-002, Brazil. biomedadriano@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ronalda S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: De Araújo
authors.forename: Ronni R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: Eduardo F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Bondan
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lallo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents