concanavalin-a and prednisolone-tebutate

In Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), prednisolone treatment induces the survival of strobilated Taenia crassiceps to sexual maturity followed by fecal release of gravid proglottides. The mechanism underlying the effects of prednisolone has not been elucidated in this taeniid/rodent model. Using a novel murine monoclonal antibody specific to a cell-surface determinant of gerbil T-cells (HUSM-M.g.15 of IgG2b isotype) for in vivo depletion of the cells, we examined the T-cell dependence of the following two phenomena: (1) elimination of strobilated T. crassiceps from the intestine of naive gerbils, and (2) depressed egg formation by the cestode in prednisolone-treated gerbils. In T-cell-depleted gerbils, only destrobilated adults were recovered from the intestine, although the recovery rate was comparable with that observed in prednisolone-treated animals. Egg formation by the cestode in T-cell-depleted, prednisone-treated gerbils did not differ from that seen in gerbils treated with prednisolone alone. We conclude that one of main effects of prednisolone can be ascribed to the suppression of T-cell functions that work to eliminate strobilated T. crassiceps from gerbils.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Concanavalin A; Cysticercus; Gerbillinae; Glucocorticoids; Immunoglobulin Isotypes; Immunohistochemistry; Intestines; Lymphocyte Depletion; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Parasite Egg Count; Prednisolone; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes