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Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity
Published on: June 18, 2012
Role of nitric oxide in host defense against Hymenolepis nana infection
Manal S E Mahmoud1, Faiza S M Habib
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Am Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
Abstract:
The defensive role of nitric oxide (NO) against Hymenolepis nana was investigated in vivo and in vitro studies. Serum NO levels were increased (P < 0.001) in mice 5 days (cysticercoid stage) and 15 days (adult stage) after H. nana induced oral infection with 1000 eggs/mouse, compared with normal controls. Meanwhile, L-NAME, a NO synthase inhibitor, oral administration in drinking water to infected mice caused a non significant decrease in serum NO levels (P > 0.05) compared with normal controls, and was associated with a significant increase in number of both cysticercoids and adult worms (P < 0.001) compared to that in infected mice 5 and 15 days post infection. In an in vitro study, the NO donor; sodium nitroprusside caused an increased mortality rate of H. nana cysticercoids and adult worms (P < 0.001) compared with controls without NO donor, and this was in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.001). Implications of these results are discussed.
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