Observation of A Gender Difference in the Response Of Mice Given Cyclosporine Treatment for Paraquat Toxicity
Location
CSU
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Steven Mercurio
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is an oxidative and inflammatory toxicant with no current clinical antidote. The goal of this study was to determine if 1) four daily injections of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine would protect mice more profoundly against lethality from paraquat than a previous two day treatment; 2) delayed treatment would have less protective action; and 3) sex-differences in response to paraquat and/or cyclosporine would be expected. Dosing mice orally with 325 mg/kg paraquat resulted in a delayed lethal response, with significantly higher mortalities in female mice (P<0.05). Intramuscular (im) injection of com oil vehicle at 1.0 ml/kg decreased paraquat lethality, especially in females. Four daily im injections of 10 mg cyclosporine/kg were not significantly different from com oil. Delayed injections of vehicle or cyclosporine were not protective. Comparison of these results with former experiments with cyclosporine and a physiological immunosuppressant (corticosterone) indicate that cyclosporine is more toxic than corticosterone, especially to females. It is also only highly protective in males with an immediate two day dosing treatment and becomes increasingly more toxic after two days of treatment.
Observation of A Gender Difference in the Response Of Mice Given Cyclosporine Treatment for Paraquat Toxicity
CSU
Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is an oxidative and inflammatory toxicant with no current clinical antidote. The goal of this study was to determine if 1) four daily injections of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine would protect mice more profoundly against lethality from paraquat than a previous two day treatment; 2) delayed treatment would have less protective action; and 3) sex-differences in response to paraquat and/or cyclosporine would be expected. Dosing mice orally with 325 mg/kg paraquat resulted in a delayed lethal response, with significantly higher mortalities in female mice (P<0.05). Intramuscular (im) injection of com oil vehicle at 1.0 ml/kg decreased paraquat lethality, especially in females. Four daily im injections of 10 mg cyclosporine/kg were not significantly different from com oil. Delayed injections of vehicle or cyclosporine were not protective. Comparison of these results with former experiments with cyclosporine and a physiological immunosuppressant (corticosterone) indicate that cyclosporine is more toxic than corticosterone, especially to females. It is also only highly protective in males with an immediate two day dosing treatment and becomes increasingly more toxic after two days of treatment.
