Trichostrongylus colubriformis: epithelial cell migration in the proximal and distal small intestine of infected rabbits.
In Trichostrongylus colubriformis-infected rabbits, epithelial cell migration rates and cell transit times along the villi were compared by radioautography on histological slides to normal values from noninfected small intestine. Regions of gut with high (upper jejunum) and low (ileum) burdens of worms were both examined. In the control rabbits, the estimated values for the cell migration rates in the proximal and distal parts of gut were respectively 5.8 and 2.8 microns/hr. Seventy-two hours after the thymidine injection, the labeled epithelial cells were near the tip of the villi in the jejunum whereas only 60% of the villous length was labeled in the ileum. In the infected rabbits, the presence of T. colubriformis was associated with a two-fold increase of the cell velocity, in the main site of infection. Although less prominent than in the proximal region, a significant acceleration in the cell migration was also noticed in the ileum. The cell transit time was markedly reduced in the parasitized jejunum, but no variation of this parameter was found in the distal part of gut. These changes in the dynamics of epithelial cells in both regions of the gut appeared to underlie the morphological and enzymological changes of the parasitized mucosa. They particularly contribute to create an adaptive region in the small intestine beyond the main site of infection.
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INRA, Station de Pathologie Aviaire et de Parasitologie, Monnaie, France.
Mariana
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JC
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002465:Cell Movement; D004848:Epithelium / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008871:Microvilli / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000473:pathology*; D014253:Trichostrongylosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D014254:Trichostrongylus / Q000254:growth & development