Trichinella spiralis  : induction of the basophilic transformation of muscle cells by synchronous newborn larvae

Abstract

The present ultrastructure observations apply to the same experimental groups that were investigated in the first part of the study. The results of electron microscopy investigations correspond to those obtained using light microscopy methods. The ultrastructure data demonstrated that 1-h-old sNBL (group I) penetrated into the sarcoplasm of the muscle cells and transformed it basophilically, finally creating the "nurse cell-muscle larva complex." These larvae also caused transformation of the same muscle cells without being present in the sarcoplasm. The larvae of group II (9-h-old sNBL) preserved transformation potential as well, but it was less intensive. Not all NBL settled in the muscle cells; some of them remained in the intercellular spaces. Group II larvae present in the muscle cells underwent early degeneration and necrosis more often than did group I larvae; the inflammatory cell reactions in the vicinity of the larvae were more intensive. The basophilic transformation of muscle cells that did not contain larvae in their sarcoplasm was not intensive and often stopped at the level of cell nuclei. The larvae of group III (6-day-old sNBL) neither settled in the muscle cells nor transformed the cell sarcoplasm.

Effect of methanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits on enteral and parenteral stages of Trichinella spiralis in rats

“…Concerning histopathological results, T. spiralis-infected cell had undergone basophilic change and was transformed to a nurse cell (Blotna-Filipiak et al 1998). After cyst completion, the myopathy (muscle cell changes) was restricted within the cyst, and mononuclear cell infiltration was seen around it in which macrophages were the dominant cell type inducing myositis (Beiting et al 2004).…”

Trichinella spiralis: nurse cell formation with emphasis on analogy to muscle cell repair

“…First of all, during the process of nurse cell formation, the existence of two kinds of cytoplasm within the nurse cell should be recognized, basophilic and eosinophilic cytoplasm [ 5 ]. Basophilic cytoplasm is formed by the transformation of the infected muscle cell after newborn-larva invasion ("basophilic transformation") [ 31 , 32 ]. The eosinophilic cytoplasm is derived from satellite cells and joins the nurse cell (This is discussed below).…”

“…As for the basophilic cytoplasm, morphological and molecular biological data are available. The initial changes include disintegration of sarcomeres, lysis of myofilaments, increases in the amounts of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and hypertrophy of nuclei [ 31 , 32 ]. Morphological signs are identified as apoptosis [ 5 , 24 ].…”

Trichinella pseudospiralis infection is characterized by more continuous and diffuse myopathy than T. spiralis infection

“…In T. spiralis infection, the infected cell undergoes basophilic change, and is transformed to a nurse cell (Blotna-Filipiak et al 1998;Wranicz et al 1998). The cyst formation was completed at 18 dpi, and after cyst completion the myopathy was restricted within the cyst.…”