Induction of synthesis of the rat cystatin S protein by the submandibular gland during the acute phase of experimental Chagas disease

Abstract

Rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain exhibited hypertrophy of the submandibular gland at 18 days after infection. SDS-PAGE of infected rats saliva revealed the presence of an additional band with an apparent molecular weight of about 13KDa. Electrophoresis of protein saliva and immunochemical analysis with antibody against rat cystatin S confirmed that the protein was identical to that induced by beta adrenergic stimulation.