Hymenolepis diminuta: changes in intestinal morphology and the enterochromaffin cell population associated with infection in male C57 mice.
Mean villus height, crypt depth and the number of 5-HT-positive enterochromaffin (EC) cells have been examined in two regions of the small intestine (20-30% and 60-70% distance from the pylorus) of male, 6 to 8-week-old, C57 mice following a 5-cysticercoid infection of the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta. Test mice and sham-infected controls were autopsied 0, 4, 8, 10, 14 and 28 days post-primary infection (p-1 degree-i) and 2, 4, 5, 7 and 14 days post-secondary infection (p-2 degrees-i), administered 28 days p-1 degree-i. Morphometric analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in crypt depth in the 60-70% intestine region in infected mice during both primary and secondary infections; no significant deviation from the control was observed for villus height in infected mice. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in the number of 5-HT-positive EC cells in infected mice. This response occurred in the lower portion of the intestine on days 10-p-1 degree-i and 5-p-2 degrees-i, and was not due to increased mucosal surface area in this region. Results are discussed with reference to murine cestode rejection and the possible involvement therein of the neuroendocrine system.
McKay
D M
DM
School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queen's University, Belfast, U.K.
Halton
D W
DW
Johnston
C F
CF
Fairweather
I
I
Shaw
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells; D006925:Hymenolepiasis / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure