Interferon-gamma treatment in mice experimentally infected withTrichinella spiralis

Interferon- (IFN-) treatment ofTrichinella spiralis-infected BALB/c mice was investigated. The therapeutic regimen consisted of daily intraperitoneal injection of 10⁴ U murine IFN- for 7 days, starting at 2 weeks post-infection. Striated muscle samples (diaphragm, thigh) were collected at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after infection. The muscle larval burden, the degree of encystation and the digestion ofT. spiralis larvae were investigated. Furthermore, immunohistochemical studies of the inflammatory cell infiltrate around encysted larvae were performed. The results demonstrated an influence of IFN- treatment on the CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ subset distribution during the immune response but revealed no difference in the degree of encystation or digestion of encapsulated larvae as compared with control values.Abbreviations in figures A artrficial shrinking zone (due to preparation of TEM) - CO collagen - CS cross sectioned Trichinella larvae - CU cuticle - D defence cell of host - DG degenerating laryae - HN hypertrophied host cell nucleus - TC inner cyst wall - Il inner layer of inner cyst wall - LS longitudinally sectioned larvae - NC normal host cell nucleus - NU nucleus - OC outer cyst wall - OL outer layer of inner cyst wall - SF striated muscle fibre - Z zone of host defence cells