To examine levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in host responses
to helminth infection, rats were infected with Trichinella
spiralis. The kinetics of HSP25, HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 production
in the liver and muscle of infected rats was
compared with that of non-infected controls. HSPs were detected using electrophoretic
analysis of fixed amounts of
proteins (0·02 mg) and then blotting and incubation of membranes
with polyclonal anti-HSP25 antibody, or monoclonal
antibody against HSP60, or HSP70 or HSP90. Quantitation of blotted separated
polypeptides reactive with the specific
anti-HSP antibodies was achieved using an image analyser. Enhancement of
HSP25 production was observed in the liver
of infected rats, whereas muscle from the same rats exhibited enhanced
production of HSP25 and HSP60 one day after
infection only. These data indicate that HSPs levels can be used successfully
to measure stress injury brought about by
helminth infection in organs and tissues of the host.