Rcn. Melo et Crs. Machado, DEPLETION OF RADIOSENSITIVE LEUKOCYTES EXACERBATES THE HEART SYMPATHETIC DENERVATION AND PARASITISM IN EXPERIMENTAL CHAGAS-DISEASE IN RATS, Journal of neuroimmunology, 84(2), 1998, pp. 151-157
The acute phase of the Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces damage of t
he heart sympathetic nerve terminals in rats. The participation of the
radiosensitive leukocytes in this process was assessed in young rats
submitted to gamma irradiation 1 day before infection with T. cruzi, Y
strain. Gamma irradiation increased the heart noradrenergic denervati
on evaluated at day 12 of infection by histochemical and electron-micr
oscopic methods. The presence of numerous macrophages with ultrastruct
ural features of activation and a significant rise in the myocardial p
arasitism suggest the involvement of radioresistant macrophages or par
asite factors, or both, on the damage of the nerve terminals. (C) 1998
Elsevier Science B.V.