Electron microscopy of cerebral malaria in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Plasmodium berghei.
Transmission and scanning electron microscopy of hamster cerebral malaria show that haemorrhages occur following vessel necrosis in animals with low parasitaemias. There is no concurrent thrombosis nor packing of capillaries with parasitised erythrocytes. Small vessels contain numerous monocytes which have phagocytosed erythrocytes and smaller particles of similar electron density. The monocytes attach to and migrate through the endothelium but then remain in close proximity to the vessels. Irregular dense deposits are present in the basement membrane of some animals 14 days after infection. These may be immune complexes. The pathogenesis of cerebral malaria is discussed in relation to these findings.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004727:Endothelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008288:Malaria / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009000:Monocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010962:Plasmodium berghei