Cytochemical Studies on the Hepatic Tissue of Mice Following Infections with Schistosoma Japonicum

Abstract

Summary Cytochemical studies on the hepatic lesions of DD mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum gave additional evidences of hepatic damage, in which significant findings were a marked increase of glycogen and fat, and a decrease of RNA in the cytoplasm of hepatic cells together with the frequent occurrence of nuclear karyorrhexis. In addition, there was the excessive accumulation of acid mucopolysaccharides (hyaluronic acid type) in the connective tissue of schistosomal granuloma and in the walls of portal vessels. The possible effect of these substances was considered to be the induction of the circulation disturbance in parenchymal tissues rather than the toxic effect of schistosomal worms or eggs. The flame-like, eosinophilic deposits about the schistosomal eggs were composed of polysaccharides other than glycogen and closely related to the substance of the egg shell. The hemosiderin-like pigment deposited in the enlarged, Kupffer cells showed a marked affinity with silver and the lack of evidence for the presence of ferric, ferrous and masked iron. Only one of a number of dissolving agents for the pigment was 40 per cent alcohol sulfate. Considering the results of many cytochemical tests, the best possible suggestion for its nature was its analogy to melanine rather than to products of hemosiderin decomposition.