Some hematological and biochemical effects of cryptococcal phospholipase in male mice

Abstract EN

Phospholipase (PL) activity has been reported to be one of the virulence factors for human pathogenic fungi and has also been described as necessary for the early events in infection.

Based on these data, our study was conducted to investigate some hematological and biochemical alterations that developed in male mice as a result of treating with PL extracted from Cryptococcus neoformans and correlation of the amount of enzyme in these effects.

Thirty adult male mice were used in this study were divided into five groups of six mice in each group namely; (group I) the control group which was treated with physiological saline (0.1 ml/animal/day), (group II and III) treated with (0.05 ml and 0.1 ml/animal/day) of crude PL respectively and (group IV and V) treated with (0.05 ml and 0.1 ml/animal/day) purified PL respectively.

By the end of the experimental period (seven days) all animals were euthanased, blood was collected by heart puncture for hematological and biochemical studies.

Hematological results revealed significant (P<0.001) decreases in total white blood cell counts (leukopenia) and decrease in neutrophils counts (neutropenia).

Biochemical analyses results showed significant decreased (P<0.001) in total cholesterol and HDL- cholesterol levels.

Total protein concentration showed a significant decreases (P< 0.05).

All group groups was compared to control group.

This study was conducted to investigate the physiological effects of cryptococcal phospholipase, as a potential virulence factor, in some blood and serum parameters.