Pathological changes of the spleen in mice infected with influenza against the background of the use of saponin tauroside Sx1

Abstract

Background. It is well known that viral infections are able to cause an imbalance of the interferon system and inhibition of cellular and phagocytic reactions of the body. One of the possible solutions of the flu treatment problem may be the application of immunomodulators of native plant origin since the influenza virus possesses a suppressive effect on cellular immunity and the interferon system.The aim. To evaluate the effect of saponin tauroside Sx1 obtained from Crimean ivy leaves on histological changes in the spleen of mice infected with influenza A/WSN/1/33(H1N1) virus.Material and methods. We used 78 male BALB/c mice weighing 16–18 g which were divided into the groups: control (K; n = 12); healthy animals treated with saponin (KS; n = 22); animals infected with influenza virus A/WSN/1/33(H1N1) (V; n = 22); infected animals treated with saponin tauroside Sx1 twice a day for 3 days (SV; n = 22). Histological studies of the spleen were performed on the 4th (subgroups V, SV, KS) and 14th day (2V, 2SV, 2KS).Results. The spleen tissue of the KS subgroup demonstrated hyperplasia of the white pulp in the form of lymphoid nodules expansion. On the 4th day in the KS subgroup a statistically significant increase in the total area of the lymphoid nodules by 3.9 times compared to the K subgroup was observed. In subgroup V, there was a sharp decrease in the area of white pulp and in 2V the lymphoid nodules zones were practically indistinguishable. Applied correction in the SV and 2SV subgroups significantly ceased the damaging effect of the virus: the lymphoid nodules area increased by 2.7 times in the 2SV subgroup compared to 2V.Conclusion. Infection with the H1N1 influenza virus leads to compensatory activation of the immune response, however, on the 14th day, a pronounced depletion of the splenic white pulp occurred. The introduction of saponin tauroside Sx1 enhanced the functional activity of the spleen due to an increase of the white pulp area.