Kinetics of cells in the intestinal mucosa of mice following oral infection with Ancylostoma ceylanicum.
A variety of cell types in the intestinal mucosa of mice has been observed following oral infection with Ancylostoma ceylanicum and the changes in their numbers quantified. The number of lamina propria mast cells increased following infection and reached a peak at 4 days; by 21 days the numbers had returned to normal levels. Globule leucocytes displayed a similar marked response but the numbers returned to within normal limits 7 days after infection. Granular intraepithelial lymphocytes did not alter significantly during the period of observation whereas non-granular intraepithelial lymphocytes declined in numbers following infection and were significantly decreased by 3 weeks. Goblets cells showed a similar response to infection as lamina propria mast cells and reached a peak level at 4 days. Following initial fluctuations in eosinophil numbers there was a substantial increase in the numbers of these cells with peak levels being reached at 21 days; eosinophil numbers then remained elevated for the duration of observation. Partial villous atrophy was seen 4 days after the arrival of larvae in the small intestine with maximum reduction in the length of villi at 7 days. Thereafter, there was a return to normal length followed by a significant elongation in villus length 28 days after infection. The influences of these various cell types on the expulsion of intestinal parasites are discussed.
D000724:Ancylostomiasis / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice