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Published on: December 15, 2010
[Experimental treatment on alveolar hydatid disease in mice with multi-frequency focused ultrasound]
Objective:
To investigate the efficacy of multi-frequency focused ultrasound (MfFU) in the treatment of alveolar hydatid disease in mice.
Methods:
Thirty Kunming mice infected subcutaneously with alveolar protoscoleces were divided into 3 groups randomly of 10 mice each and irradiated with different intensity of MfFU. Mice in the experiment groups B and C were irradiated only once for 5 min and group A served as control. The irradiation power of the 3 transducers in the low-power group (group B) was 4 W + 4 W + 5 W; that in the high-power group (group C) was 10 W + 11 W + 10 W. After the irradiation, the morphological change of alveolar tissues was observed with transmission electron microscope. The survival rate of protoscoleces was evaluated with methylene blue staining. The mitochondrial content in the alveolar tissues was detected with laser confocal microscope. The Coomassie brilliant blue staining and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) kit were applied for measuring the amount of general proteins and the activity of succinate dehydrogenase of the alveolar hydatid cyst respectively.
Results:
After irradiated by MfFU, transmission electron microscopy showed that in groups B and C the cells on the germinal layer decreased. The mitochondria swelled or broke. The endo cytoplasmic reticulum became swollen markedly. The karyotheca looked unclear. The microvilli shortened or disappeared. All the damages in group C displayed more seriously than in group B. The survival rate of protoscoleces in groups B (70.50%) and C (59.83%) was statistically lower than that of group A (82.33%) (P < 0.05). And there was also a statistical difference between groups B and C (P < 0.05). The amount of general proteins and the activity of SDH in groups B (3.07 mg/ml and 2.15 U/mg respectively) and C (2.87 mg/ml and 1.87 U/mg) were lower significantly than those in group A (3.83 mg/ml and 3.50 U/mg) (P < 0.05), but no statistical difference between B and C (P > 0.05). The mitochondria content in groups B (105.46 a.u/a) and C (70.90 a.u/a) was lower than that in group A (133.45 a.u/a). Group C showed statistical difference than A and B (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between A and B (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
It is evident that the cysts of Echinococcus multilocularis in mice can be damaged by MfFU which shows certain curative effect.
Insights
Multi-frequency focused ultrasound (MfFU) effectively damages alveolar hydatid disease cysts in mice. Higher intensity MfFU showed greater efficacy in reducing parasite survival and tissue damage, indicating therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Medical Ultrasound
- Biophysics
Context:
- Alveolar hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, poses a significant health challenge.
- Current treatments for alveolar hydatid disease can be invasive and have limitations.
- Exploring novel, non-invasive therapeutic modalities is crucial for effective disease management.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of multi-frequency focused ultrasound (MfFU) against Echinococcus multilocularis cysts in a murine model.
- To assess the impact of varying MfFU intensities on parasite viability and host tissue integrity.
Summary:
- Mice infected with E. multilocularis were treated with different intensities of MfFU.
- Transmission electron microscopy revealed significant cellular damage in parasite germinal layers, including mitochondrial swelling and microvilli shortening, with higher intensity MfFU causing more severe damage.
- MfFU treatment significantly reduced protoscolex survival rates and decreased total protein content and succinate dehydrogenase activity within the cysts compared to controls. Higher intensity MfFU demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in parasite survival compared to lower intensity.
- Mitochondrial content was significantly reduced in the high-intensity MfFU group, suggesting a mechanism of action involving mitochondrial disruption.
Impact:
- MfFU demonstrates a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach for alveolar hydatid disease.
- The study provides evidence for MfFU's ability to induce direct damage to Echinococcus multilocularis cysts.
- Further research into optimizing MfFU parameters could lead to new clinical treatments for parasitic infections.
