Expulsion of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis from the Small Intestine of the Rat by Prostaglandin-Like Factors from Ram Semen

Abstract

The widespread distribution of prostaglandins in tissues and fluids, their association with inflammatory responses of immunological origin and their biological properties suggest that they may play a role in expulsion of parasites from the gastro-intestinal tract. The present studies showed that intraduodenal injection of chloroform extracts of ram semen (containing prostaglandin-like factors) and fractions of these extracts obtained by preparative thin-layer chromatography caused the expulsion of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis adult worms from the small intestine in the rat. Administration of aspirin and d-propoxyphene, which are potent inhibitors of prostaglandins, prevented the expulsion of parasites which normally occurs in rats between days 10 and 16 of a primary infection with N. brasiliensis. Cell transfer studies showed that these analgesics did not affect production of immune lymphocytes and provided additional evidence that they prevented worm expulsion by interfering with the activity of non-specific mediators.