Thyroid status and adenosine triphosphataseactivity in experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection in rabbits
Publication Date
1996-11-01Author
Lomo, Po
Makawiti, Dominic W
Okinji, VN
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract/ Overview
Summary The effect of trypanosome infection on the plasma levels and ratios of tri-
iodothyronine (T 3) and thyroxine (T 4) as well as the activity of mitochondrial adenosine
triphosphatase (ATPase) were investigated. Three groups of sexually mature white New
Zealand rabbits were used. Group 1 consisted of the normal non-infected rabbits, group 2
were experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense and group 3 were infected but
given replacement doses of thyroxine. The infected animals (group 2) showed a rapid
decline in both T 3 and T 4 but an increase in the T 3/T 4 ratio indicating differential
production or clearance rates between the two hormones. The mitochondrial ATPase activity
was found to be depressed in the infected group whereas there was no significant difference
in the ATPase activity between the non-infected (group 1) and infected-treated animals …