Apoptotic changes induced in mice splenic tissue due to malaria infection.
OBJECTIVE
Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes and causing multiple alterations in the infected host. The objective of this study was to investigate the apoptotic changes in murine splenic tissue due to infection with Plasmodium chabaudi.


METHODS
Flow cytometric analysis was used to quantify normal and apoptotic spleen cells in P. chabaudi-infected female C57BL/6 mice. Splenic tissue was also examined for histological study.


RESULTS
Challenge of mice with parasitized erythrocytes induced damage to splenic tissue. Splenomegaly and changes in splenic cell numbers were the most common changes linked to P. chabaudi. Also noteworthy was that apoptotic splenic cell numbers correlated with changes in parasitemia.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that reversible splenic lesions might develop after persistent low-grade parasitemia. Rapid changes in cellular splenic populations are influenced by apoptotic events, proving the role of the spleen in protective immunity against blood-borne infections due to P. chabaudi malaria.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt. mohameddkhil@yahoo.com
Mohamed Abd Elmonem
MA
Dkhil
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018512:Parasitemia; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology