title: Pancreatic hepatocytes in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.
abstract: Hepatocytic metaplasia may be induced in hamsters by carcinogens, and associated with aging, diabetes or chronic pancreatitis. By means of histopathologic and immunohistochemic studies, we observed pancreatic hepatocytes in hamsters infected and reinfected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The change was seen in 18 (19%) out of 94 infected animals, and was not found among 53 controls, Normal islet cells were immunoreactive for neuron-specific enolase and not reactive for NCL-HAS. Metaplastic cells were immunoreactive for NCL-HAS and not reactive for islet hormones and enolase. No relationship was observed between number of inoculations and metaplasia; however, the intensity of the inflammatory process and sequels seems to favor the development of metaplastic cells. Hamsters infected with T. cruzi may be useful to study hepatocytic metaplasia, and contribute to clarify aspects of Chagas' disease and pancreatic changes. Our data indicate that aging, in addition to inflammation and atrophy, plays a role in this change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
authors.forename: Vitorino Modesto
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Marcus Aurelho
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabrine-Santos
authors.forename: Daniela de Stefani
authors.initials: Dde S
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.forename: Maria das Graças
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Gilberto de Araújo
authors.initials: Gde A
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lages-Silva
authors.forename: Luis Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008679:Metaplasia; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure