HEPATIC EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX IN BALB C MICE INFECTED WITH LEISHMANIA-DONOVANI/

The development of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the liver of the BALB/c mouse infected with Leishmania donovani was observed by histolo gy, immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy at 1, 2, 4, 8, 14 and 20 weeks after infection. Collagen III and proteoglycan were detected in granulomas and in the portal spaces from 4 to 20 weeks after infect ion. Laminin was not detected in granulomas but was observed in the ba sement membrane of new small blood vessels in the granulation tissue a round the portal spaces from 8 to 20 weeks after infection. The ECM co mponents in the space of Disse showed no changes in distribution throu ghout the entire period of study. Systemic fibrosis in the hepatic lob ule was not evident in the BALB/c mice. This mouse strain does not app ear to be an appropriate model to study the role of ECM in chronic vis ceral leishmaniasis.