Abstract
Parasitism in skeletal muscles and myositis are commonly observed during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The effect of T. cruzi infection on contractile properties of skeletal muscles in consecutive periods of the acute infection in BALB/c mice was studied. Albarrada strain (clone 4) which was isolated in Mexico and has demonstrated a high level of blood parasitemia and parasitism in skeletal muscles was used. Isolated strips of rectus abdominis muscle were subjected to direct electrical field in vitro. Alternatively, plantaris muscles were stimulated in situ through the sciatic nerve. The peak amplitudes of a single twitch and tetanus contractions were considered to estimate the mechanical properties of muscles. Histopathological analysis was performed to correlate functional changes with the evolution of tissue parasitism and tissue injury. Contractile properties of muscles were significantly attenuated during acute T. cruzi infection. The percentage of damaged muscles rather than the character of tissue pathology affected their contractile properties significantly.
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