[Changes in the histochemical composition of mucins in goblet cells in the course of a Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection in the rat]. / Veranderingen in de histochemische samenstelling van mucinen in slijmbekercellen tijdens het verloop van een infectie met Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in de rat.

Rats were infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, and changes in the histochemical composition of mucins in jejunal goblet cells were investigated. Ten days after infection, mitotic activity was extensively in jejunal crypts: both crypts and villi were characterised by hyperplasia of goblet cells. Infected rats had a markedly greater number of crypt and villi goblet cells containing neutral mucin than the control rats did. Moreover, 15 days after infection, infected rats had significantly more goblet cells containing acid mucin than control rats did. In infected rats, the acid mucins in goblet cells (day 15) appeared to be predominantly sulphomucins, whereas in control rats the acid mucins were predominantly sialomucins. The experiments established that when N. brasiliensis is excreted by rats, the histochemical composition of mucins in crypt and villi goblet cells has been changed not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively.

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: histochemical changes in the composition of mucins in goblet cells during infection in rats.

Changes in the quality of mucins in jejunal goblet cells were investigated during an infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in rats. At 10 days after infection, when proliferative activity in the crypts is excessive and both crypts and villi are characterized by hyperplasia of goblet cells, the histochemical composition of the population of goblet cells in comparison with controls shows a marked increase in crypt and villous goblet cells containing neutral mucins. At 15 days after infection both crypts and villi display a significant increase in goblet cells containing acid mucin and decrease in goblet cells containing neutral mucin. The acid mucins in crypt and villous goblet cells on day 15 appear to be sulphomucins predominantly, whereas in controls sialomucin-containing goblet cells dominate both in the crypts and on the villi. These experiments establish that the explusion of N. brasiliensis from the intestine of the rat coincides not only with quantitative, but also with remarkable qualitative changes in the histochemical composition of mucins in goblet cells.