[Prospects for leprosy treatment via complexation of rifampicin witH iodide and horse-radish root].

A model of leprosy was used to study the therapeutic effect of horse-radish root (HRR) containing peroxidase in combination with rifampicin (RFP) and potassium iodide (PI) as compared to routine combined therapy with RFP and diaminodiphenylsulfonum. Therapy with HRR and iodide showed the best antimicrobial effect than the routine combined therapy. A combination of RFP, HRR, and PI increased the activity of neutrophilic myeliperoxidase produced an anti-inflammatory activity and caused no persistent anemia or toxic effect on the murine liver.

Effects of horseradish root on functional activity of phagocytes, total blood cell count, and state of the liver in mice with experimental leprosy.

Therapy of experimental leprosy with dried and grated horseradish root administered perorally in a dose of 300 mg/kg mixed food and treatment with purified horseradish peroxidase increased myeloperoxidase activity of blood neutrophils, enhanced antimicrobial functions of phagocytes, decreased leukocytosis, normalized total blood cell count, and produced no adverse effects on the functional state of the liver in mice.

Effects of horseradish root on functional activity of phagocytes, total blood cell count, and state of the liver in mice with experimental leprosy

Therapy of experimental leprosy with dried and grated horseradish root administered perorally in a dose of 300 mg/kg mixed food and treatment with purified horseradish peroxidase increased myeloperoxidase activity of blood neutrophils, enhanced antimicrobial functions of phagocytes, decreased leukocytosis, normalized total blood cell count, and produced no adverse effects on the functional state of the liver in mice.

Effect of peroxidase in complex with basic antileprosy drugs on liver, blood, and functional activity of phagocytes in mice with experimental leprosy.

Therapeutic effect of lyophilized horseradish peroxidase in complex with the basic antileprosy drugs diaminodiphenylsulfone and rifampicin was studied in experimental leprosy. Oral therapy with drug complexes was more effective than monotherapy. Treatment with drug combinations activated myeloperoxidase in blood neutrophil, produced an antiinflammatory effect, stimulated cell immunity, and had no toxic effect on mouse liver.

[Electron microscopy of Mycobacterium leprae passed in laboratory animals]. / Elektronno-mikroskopicheskoe issledovanie Mycobacterium leprae, passiruemykh na laboratornykh zhivotnykh.

The ultrastructure of M. leprae was studied in the process of its intraplantar passage from man to mice (passages 1-8). Changes in the morphology of M. leprae, observed in the course of 3 passages, were established. From the phase of dormant forms (passage 1) the bacteria became adapted to the new host by passage 3, which was confirmed by the absence of differences in the ultrastructure of cells by passages 3-8. The possibilities of the phenotypic variability of M. leprae in the process of in vivo passage should be taken into consideration when they are used for the production of specific biopreparations, experimental modeling and the screening of antileprous preparations.

Effect of peroxidase on the development of experimental leprosy in mice after intraplantar infection.

Lyophilized horseradish peroxidase (activity 100 U/mg) administered per os in a dose of 100-200 mg/kg fodder enhanced bactericidal activity of phagocytes in mice experimentally infected with Mycobacterium leprae, which manifested in suppression of M. leprae growth in comparison with untreated controls.

Effects of peroxidase therapy on functional state of the liver and phagocytes and blood cell counts in mice with experimental leprosy.

We studied the effects of long-term therapy with horseradish peroxidase administered orally to mice with experimental leprosy. Horseradish peroxidase stimulated phagocyte myeloperoxidase activity that correlated with their functional activity, reduced leukocytosis, and produced no adverse effects on the liver.

[The electron immunochemical detection of mycobacterial antigens in the granulomas of leprosy patients]. / Elektronno-immunokhimicheskoi vyiavlenie mikobakterial'nykh antigenov v granulemakh bol'nykh leproi.

M.leprae antigens (Ag) in skin granuloma macrophages from 10 untreated patients with active lepromatous leprosy were studied with the use of electron microscopic immunochemical methods. Peroxidase-conjugated antirabbit antibodies to M.leprae and M.avium were used. M.leprae Ag were found to be located in mycobacterial microcapsules, as well as in collagen fibers of the derma and the connective tissue of blood vessels with the signs of damaged collagen. In the latter case fixed immune complexes producing a damaging action on collagen fibers were probably detected together with free M.leprae Ag. The use of immunocytochemical methods may be rather valuable in the diagnosis of the indeterminate and tuberculoid forms of leprosy.

[Evaluation of the functional state of the leprous macrophages]. / Otsenka funktsional'nogo sostoyaniya leproznykh makrofagov.

Cytochrome oxidase (CCO), peroxidase, succinic dehydrogenase (SDG) and NADH-diaphorase were studied electron-cytochemically in leprous macrophages (LM) of granulomas of patients suffering from lepromatous leprosy. The LM peroxidase activity and location differed, this affecting the completeness of M. leprae phagocytosis. High CCO activity in LM cytoplasm was not a factor essentially influencing M. leprae disintegration. SDG and NADH-diaphorase, locating predominantly in membraneous structures of M. leprae, show low activity in LM cytoplasm.

[Effect of ultrasonic waves on the growth intensity of Mycobacterium leprae in liquid nutrient media]. / Vliianie ul'trazvukovykh voln na intensivnost' rosta Mycobacterium leprae v zhidkikh pitaetl'nykh sredakh.

Ultrasound-treated M. leprae grow in liquid culture media at a greater rate than untreated ones. Ultrasound-treated M. leprae retain their capacity for intensive growth after their passage in mice.