Effects of the L-arginine supplementation in the fetal development alterations in a congenital chagas disease mouse model

Abstract

A nutritional protein deficit would induce modifications in fetal development, parasitemia and congenital Chagas transmission, while arginine intake would improve this situation. Female mice (C3H strain) were feeded with hypoproteic (H), and normoproteic (N) diets during a month, some of them were provided also with 0.1% of arginine (Arg). They were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and were sacrificed at 14th day of gestation. It was evaluated maternal parasitemia, embryos and absorptions quantity; embryos and placentae size, and uterine horns weight. The H diet increased infection effects, affecting fetal development and maternal parasitemia. Arg improved protective effects, with fetal size increment, reduced embryo absorptions and maternal parasitemia. The high incidence of pregnant women affected with Chagas disease are related to deficient diets that would affect fetal development, and would be associated with susceptibility to congenital transmission. The Arg supplementation improve fetal development in the acute phase of Chagas infection, possible due to the nourishment increment including sources for nitric oxide production