Event Abstract Back to Event Zinc intake improves immune response during pregnancy in Wistar rats infected with Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi Ana A. Carraro Abrahão1*, Cássia Mariana B. Da Costa1, Murilo Rodrigues B. De Freitas1, Vânia Brazão1, Carla D. Dos Santos1, Miguel A. Sala2 and José Clóvis Do Prado Júnior1 1 Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto - USP, Brazil 2 Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto - USP, Brazil Several changes in the levels of various hormones and serum factors occur during pregnancy. Occurrence of infectious diseases such as Chagas disease during pregnancy has significant effects on maternal health and can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. It is known that zinc is an essential element important for the normal function of the immune system. The objective of this work was to examine the potential role of zinc supplementation during the acute phase of Chagas disease in pregnant Wistar rats. Twenty pregnant Wistar rats (180-220g) were grouped in: pregnant control (PC), pregnant control supplied with zinc (PCZ), pregnant infected (PI) and pregnant infected supplied with zinc (PIZ). Females were i.p. infected with 1x105 trypomastigotes of Y strain of T. cruzi on the 3rd day of pregnancy. Rats were orally supplied (gavage) with zinc sulphate (20 mg/kg) once a day during the experiment. On day 18 of pregnancy (15º day post infection) some parameters were evaluated such as parasitemia, IFN-γ and TNF-α concentrations, peritoneal macrophages counts and histological analysis of heart, placenta and fetuses stained with haematoxylin and eosin. PIZ group showed a significant reduction of parasitemia levels, enhanced concentrations of IFN-γ and significant reduction of amastigotes nests in the placentas and hearts. Absence of parasites in fetal tissues was observed. Upon this scenario, zinc intake during the early pregnancy period plays a vital protective role, improving immune response and consequently preventing adverse outcomes. Supported by Fapesp and Capes. Acknowledgements Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Keywords: Trypanosoma cruzi, Zinc, Pregnancy, immune response, Chagas Disease Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013. Presentation Type: Abstract Topic: Host-pathogen interactions Citation: Carraro Abrahão AA, Da Costa CB, De Freitas MB, Brazão V, Dos Santos CD, Sala MA and Do Prado Júnior J (2013). Zinc intake improves immune response during pregnancy in Wistar rats infected with Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.01111 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 17 Jul 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013. * Correspondence: Dr. Ana A Carraro Abrahão, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto - USP, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, acarraro@fcfrp.usp.br Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Ana A Carraro Abrahão Cássia Mariana B Da Costa Murilo Rodrigues B De Freitas Vânia Brazão Carla D Dos Santos Miguel A Sala José Clóvis Do Prado Júnior Google Ana A Carraro Abrahão Cássia Mariana B Da Costa Murilo Rodrigues B De Freitas Vânia Brazão Carla D Dos Santos Miguel A Sala José Clóvis Do Prado Júnior Google Scholar Ana A Carraro Abrahão Cássia Mariana B Da Costa Murilo Rodrigues B De Freitas Vânia Brazão Carla D Dos Santos Miguel A Sala José Clóvis Do Prado Júnior PubMed Ana A Carraro Abrahão Cássia Mariana B Da Costa Murilo Rodrigues B De Freitas Vânia Brazão Carla D Dos Santos Miguel A Sala José Clóvis Do Prado Júnior Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.