T cell-dependent inducible nitric oxide synthase production and ultrastructural morphology in BALB/c mice infected with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.
Euthymic BALB/c and athymic nude BALB/c mice aged 3-8 days were infected intraperitoneally with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (ATCC strain 19698). After euthanasia at 5 months post-inoculation, hepatic granulomas were evaluated by morphometric analysis of digital images captured from light microscopy sections, by electron microscopy and by immunohistochemical methods. Euthymic mice differed from athymic mice in that (1) their hepatic granulomas were smaller, contained fewer bacteria, and produced more inducible nitric oxide synthase, and (2) their hepatic macrophages contained fewer bacteria, a higher percentage of degraded bacteria, and increased numbers of primary lysosomes. The study showed that macrophage activation was markedly less in the T cell-deficient athymic mice than in the euthymic mice.
Thomsen
B V
BV
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-1250, USA.
Steadham
E M
EM
Gallup
J M
JM
Ackermann
M R
MR
Brees
D J
DJ
Cheville
N F
NF
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006099:Granuloma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse