Influence of testosterone on the development of ALA.

Abstract

<p>A) Time schedule of gonadectomy, testosterone substitution and intrahepatic infection with <i>E. histolytica</i> trophozoites. B) Serum testosterone levels in placebo treated naïve female mice, testosterone substituted female mice and male mice measured by ELISA (ng/ml). C) Size of ALA in testosterone treated, ovariectomized (ovx) or naïve female mice. Score values indicative for the size of ALA determined on day 7 post intrahepatic infection with 1×10⁵ virulent <i>E. histolytica</i> trophozoites of naïve female mice treated either with testosterone or placebo are shown (score 0: no abscess; score 1: abscess <1 mm; score 2∶1 to 5 mm; score 3: >5 mm). D) Re-isolation rate of <i>E. histolytica</i> trophozoites from abscessed liver tissue of ovariectomized (ovx) and naïve female mice treated either with testosterone or placebo. Results were obtained from at least 3 independent trials each comprising of 7 animals (statistics: Mann Whitney U test).</p