Distribution of collagen types I and III in murine hepatic schistosomiasis

ABSTRACT

The distribution of collagn types I and III in the liver of mice infected with schistosoma mansoni, has been studied by indirect immunofluorescent technique using type specific antibodies. The deposition of collagen types was evaluated semiquantitatively between 3 and 20 weeks after infection. Type III collagen started to appear in the granulomas at the 6th week after infection, while type I collagen was first detected at the 8th week after infection. Deposits of types I and III collagen increased gradually and attained highest levels by 20 weeks of infection. Predominance of type III collagen was noted between the 8th-16th week after infection. With progress of the disease, deposits of type I collagen became prominent and both collagen types were detected in almost equal proportions between the 16th and 20th week after infection. Thus, immunohistochemical demonstration of the relative distribution of types I and III collagen in hepatic murine schistosomiasis can be a marker of chronicity