Analysis of plasma citrulline and intestinal morphometry in mice with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis.
BACKGROUND
Portal hypertension in the mucosa of the intestine and the presence of granulomas in the wall of this organ can alter digestive function in patients with schistosomiasis. Citrulline is a potential marker of intestinal function in some diseases that affect the morphometry of the mucosa because of its close association with enterocytes. The aims of the present study were to determine serum citrulline concentrations in mice with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, analyze the morphologic repercussions for the mucosa of the small intestine, correlate citrulline concentrations with morphometric changes in the intestinal mucosa, and evaluate the effect of splenectomy on citrulline concentration.


METHODS
After approval from the local ethics committee, 46 adult female albino Swiss mice were divided into two groups: Control (23 healthy mice) and experimental (23 mice with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis). Blood samples were collected for the analysis of plasma citrulline before and after splenectomy. A segment of the jejunum was resected for morphometric analysis.


RESULTS
The average body mass in the control group was greater than that in the experimental group (p = 0.00062). The average citrulline concentration in the control group was greater than that in the experimental group both before and after splenectomy (p < 0.001). In the experimental group, the villi had less height and area, and there was a smaller perimeter of the mucosal surface (p = 0.003, <0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). There was a direct correlation between citrulline concentration and the height and area of the villi (p = 0.003 and 0.04, respectively). There was no correlation between citrulline concentration and the perimeter of the surface of the jejunal mucosa. After splenectomy, there was a reduction in the mean citrulline concentration in the experimental group (p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum citrulline concentrations were reduced in mice with schistosomiasis, and a direct correlation was found between the citrulline concentration and the morphometry of the jejunal villi. Moreover, there was a reduction in the plasma concentration of citrulline after splenectomy.
Siqueira
Luciana T
LT
General Surgery Service, University Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. lt-siqueira@uol.com.br
Ferraz
Alvaro Antônio B
AA
Campos
Josemberg M
JM
De Lima Filho
José Luiz
JL
Albuquerque
Mônica C P A
MC
de Lima Aires
André
A
Ribeiro
Maria Helena M Lima
MH
Cavalcanti
Maria Taciana H
MT
De Lima B Cavalcanti
Carmelita
C
Ferraz
Edmundo Machado
EM
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002956:Citrulline / Q000097:blood*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D002956:Citrulline