Thymus dependence and independence of intestinal pathology in a Trichinella spiralis infection: a study in congenitally athymic (nude) mice. 1977

E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma

The hypothesis that non-specific histopathological gut changes are thymus-dependent was tested in a helminth infection--the nematode Trichinella spiralis. The study was performed in congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice and their thymus-bearing heterozygous litter-mates (+/mu). The non-specific histopathological changes of the small intestine were judged on villus/crypt ratio and mitotic index; for the specific (= immunological) reaction the number of pyroninophilic cells in the small intestine was used as criterion. T. spiralis induced non-specific histopathological reactions both in nu/nu and +/nu mice, whereas the number of pyroninophilic cells was only increased in +/nu mice. It was concluded that the immunological reaction was dependent on the immune status of the host, whereas the non-specific histopathological changes were not, i.e. they were thymus-independent.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007413 Intestinal Mucosa Lining of the INTESTINES, consisting of an inner EPITHELIUM, a middle LAMINA PROPRIA, and an outer MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE. In the SMALL INTESTINE, the mucosa is characterized by a series of folds and abundance of absorptive cells (ENTEROCYTES) with MICROVILLI. Intestinal Epithelium,Intestinal Glands,Epithelium, Intestinal,Gland, Intestinal,Glands, Intestinal,Intestinal Gland,Mucosa, Intestinal
D007583 Jejunum The middle portion of the SMALL INTESTINE, between DUODENUM and ILEUM. It represents about 2/5 of the remaining portion of the small intestine below duodenum. Jejunums
D008297 Male Males
D008819 Mice, Nude Mutant mice homozygous for the recessive gene "nude" which fail to develop a thymus. They are useful in tumor studies and studies on immune responses. Athymic Mice,Mice, Athymic,Nude Mice,Mouse, Athymic,Mouse, Nude,Athymic Mouse,Nude Mouse
D008938 Mitosis A type of CELL NUCLEUS division by means of which the two daughter nuclei normally receive identical complements of the number of CHROMOSOMES of the somatic cells of the species. M Phase, Mitotic,Mitotic M Phase,M Phases, Mitotic,Mitoses,Mitotic M Phases,Phase, Mitotic M,Phases, Mitotic M
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013950 Thymus Gland A single, unpaired primary lymphoid organ situated in the MEDIASTINUM, extending superiorly into the neck to the lower edge of the THYROID GLAND and inferiorly to the fourth costal cartilage. It is necessary for normal development of immunologic function early in life. By puberty, it begins to involute and much of the tissue is replaced by fat. Thymus,Gland, Thymus,Glands, Thymus,Thymus Glands
D014235 Trichinellosis An infection with TRICHINELLA. It is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat that is infected with larvae of nematode worms TRICHINELLA genus. All members of the TRICHINELLA genus can infect human in addition to TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS, the traditional etiological agent. It is distributed throughout much of the world and is re-emerging in some parts as a public health hazard and a food safety problem. Human Trichinellosis,Trichinelliasis,Trichinosis,Human Trichinelloses,Trichinelliases,Trichinelloses,Trichinelloses, Human,Trichinellosis, Human,Trichinoses
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

Related Publications

E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
December 1974, The Journal of parasitology,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
January 1980, Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde (Berlin, Germany),
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
February 1983, The Journal of parasitology,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
February 1976, Journal of the Reticuloendothelial Society,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
March 1984, Infection and immunity,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
June 1978, Infection and immunity,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
January 1982, International archives of allergy and applied immunology,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
June 1985, Infection and immunity,
E J Ruitenberg, and F Leenstra, and A Elgersma
October 1978, Infection and immunity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!