title: Gonadal steroids negatively modulate oxidative stress in CBA/Ca female mice infected with P. berghei ANKA.
abstract: We decreased the level of gonadal steroids in female and male mice by gonadectomy. We infected these mice with P. berghei ANKA and observed the subsequent impact on the oxidative stress response. Intact females developed lower levels of parasitaemia and lost weight faster than intact males. Gonadectomised female mice displayed increased levels of parasitaemia, increased body mass, and increased anaemia compared with their male counterparts. In addition, gonadectomised females exhibited lower specific catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in their blood and spleen tissues compared with gonadectomised males. To further study the oxidative stress response in P. berghei ANKA-infected gonadectomised mice, nitric oxide levels were assessed in the blood and spleen, and MDA levels were assessed in the spleen. Intact, sham-operated, and gonadectomised female mice exhibited higher levels of nitric oxide in the blood and spleen compared with male mice. MDA levels were higher in all of the female groups. Finally, gonadectomy significantly increased the oxidative stress levels in females but not in males. These data suggest that differential oxidative stress is influenced by oestrogens that may contribute to sexual dimorphism in malaria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, FES Zaragoza Campus, 09230 México City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Néstor Aarón
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mosqueda-Romo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, FES Zaragoza Campus, 09230 México City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ana Laura
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Morales
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, FES Zaragoza Campus, 09230 México City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Fidel Orlando
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Buendía-González
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, FES Zaragoza Campus, 09230 México City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Institute of Biomedical Research, University City, 04510 México City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morales-Montor
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, FES Zaragoza Campus, 09230 México City, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legorreta-Herrera
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006066:Gonads / Q000601:surgery; D008288:Malaria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010962:Plasmodium berghei
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D009569:Nitric Oxide