THE EFFECT OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE ON THE DYNAMICS OF OXYGEN-UPTAKE ANDPEROXIDASE AND SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITIES IN SKELETAL-MUSCLES OFMICE INFECTED WITH TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS LARVAE

The present study was undertaken to examine whether treatment with met hylprednisolone could normalise (modulate) the biochemical dysfunction s in the skeletal muscles of mice in experimental trichinellosis. Our studies included investigations of two indices of the uncoupling of ox idative phosphorylation: RCI value (respiratory control index) and QO2 (oxygen uptake in state IV and in state III) as well as of two antiox idant enzyme activities: peroxidase (POX, E.C. 1.11.1.7) and superoxid e dismutase (SOD, E.C. 1.15.1.1) in mouse muscles infected with Trichi nella spiralis. Treatment with methylprednisolone was responsible for the normalisation of the activity of POX at 30 d.p.i. and was responsi ble for 50% decrease in stimulation of SOD activity at 43 d.p.i. At ot her points of measurement the drug showed no statistical influence on the activities of this enzymes. The drug had not statistically signifi cant effect on the value of the respiratory control index and on the v alue of oxygen uptake.