Capillaria hepatica in rats: focal parasitic hepatic lesions and septal fibrosis run independent courses.
Capillaria hepatica causes two main lesions in the liver of rats: multifocal chronic inflammation, directly related to the presence of disintegrating parasites and their eggs, and a process of systematized septal fibrosis. The comparative behavior of these two lesions was investigated in rats experimentally infected with 600 embryonated eggs, following either corticosteroid treatment or specific antigenic stimulation, in an attempt to understand the relationship between these two lesions, and the pathogenesis of septal fibrosis. The two treatments differently modified the morphological aspects of the focal parasitic-related lesions, but did not interfere with the presentation of diffuse septal fibrosis, although a mild decrease in the degree of fibrosis occurred in corticoid-treated animals. These findings indicate that although the two lesions are C. hepatica induced, they are under different pathogenetic control, the induction of septal fibrosis being triggered during early infection to follow an independent pathway.
Gomes
Ana Thereza
AT
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
Cunha
Liliane Monteiro
LM
Bastos
Carla Guimarães
CG
Medrado
Bruno Frederico
BF
Assis
Bárbara C A
BC
Andrade
Zilton A
ZA
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002195:Capillaria / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017189:Enoplida Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000032:analysis; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D011241:Prednisone