The main objective of this study was to determine which biochemical blood parameters can serve as indicators of Zn or Zn/Cd burden and tapeworm infection. This study was performed on 44 Wistar male rats during a 6-week period, when rats were or were not fed a zinc/cadmium rich diet and were or were not infected with tapeworms (Hymenolepis diminuta). Total protein, albumin, urea, glucose, triacylglycerols, non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, Mg, Ca, P and Zn levels were analysed. Control rats with tapeworm infection had significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) total protein, urea and phosphorus concentrations than did rats unaffected by any experimental factor. Rats given overdoses of zinc lactate exhibited significantly lower glucose levels than did the other rats, especially those infected with tapeworms. Low glucose level in uninfected rats indicate a Zn overdose; high doses of zinc lactate likely decrease levels of glucose via cortisol, which is released during stress. Rats fed the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulating plant Arabidopsis halleri and infected with tapeworms had significantly higher (p ≤ 0.01) cholesterol and urea levels but lower zinc, triacylglycerol, and alkaline phosphatase levels than did rats fed the same diet but free of tapeworms. The increase of alkaline phosphatase level in uninfected rats may indicate both Zn/Cd burden and rat liver damage. Overall, this study not only supports the theory that H. diminuta can serve as a promising model for helminth therapy of the host mammal but also confirmed that this tapeworm is capable to protect somehow the host organism from the harmful effects of heavy metals.

中文翻译：

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膳食锌或锌镉过量与绦虫感染对大鼠生化指标的影响


本研究的主要目的是确定哪些生化血液参数可以作为锌或锌/镉负荷和绦虫感染的指标。这项研究对 44 只 Wistar 雄性大鼠进行了为期 6 周的研究，这些大鼠是否被喂食富含锌/镉的饮食，并且是否感染绦虫（ Hymenolepis diminuta ）。分析总蛋白、白蛋白、尿素、葡萄糖、三酰甘油、非酯化脂肪酸、胆固醇、碱性磷酸酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、尿酸、镁、钙、磷和锌水平。感染绦虫的对照大鼠的总蛋白、尿素和磷浓度显着高于未受任何实验因素影响的大鼠（ p ≤ 0.05）。服用过量乳酸锌的老鼠的血糖水平明显低于其他老鼠，尤其是那些感染绦虫的老鼠。未感染大鼠的低血糖表明锌过量；高剂量的乳酸锌可能会通过皮质醇降低葡萄糖水平，皮质醇在压力期间释放。与饲喂相同饮食但不含绦虫的大鼠相比，饲喂锌/镉超积累植物拟南芥并感染绦虫的大鼠胆固醇和尿素水平显着升高（ p≤0.01 ），但锌、三酰甘油和碱性磷酸酶水平较低。未感染大鼠碱性磷酸酶水平的增加可能表明锌/镉负荷和大鼠肝损伤。总体而言，这项研究不仅支持H的理论。 diminuta可以作为宿主哺乳动物的蠕虫治疗的有前途的模型，但也证实了这种绦虫能够以某种方式保护宿主生物体免受重金属的有害影响。