Angiogenesis and schistosomal granuloma formation.
An increasing amount of evidences points to angiogenesis as playing a paramount role in fibrosis development. However granulomas in general, and periovular schistosomal granulomas in particular, are considered avascular structures, although they usually result in dense areas of focal fibrosis. In order to clarify this apparent paradox, the presence of blood vessels was systematically searched in hepatic schistosomal granulomas of mice, during different stages of the infection, and at different stages of granuloma evolution, by means of vascular injections of colored masses, demonstration of laminin in vascular basement membranes and by ultra structural analysis. Vascular proliferation appeared evident at the early stages of granuloma formation, gradually decreasing thereafter, older granulomas becoming almost avascular structures, sometimes delimited at the periphery by a rich vascular network.
Baptista
Ana Paula
AP
Laboratório de Patologia Experimental, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz-Fiocruz, Rua Valdemar Falcão 121, 40295-001 Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Andrade
Zilton A
ZA
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors