No abstract

We observed histopathological and ultrastructural hepatic changes following the intracardiac inoculation of Leishmania donovani amastigotes into inbred LHC hamsters (group I). Since granuloma formation is known to be T-cell-dependent, we also examined infected hamsters under cyclophosphamide immunosuppressive treatment (group ICy) and evaluated the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by their cells. Group I showed more intense hepatocyte and endothelial cell clasmatosis as well as hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, deposits of connective tissue fibers, granulomas with multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) of foreign-body and Langhans' types and reduced production of IL-2 by spleen cells. In contrast, group ICy hamsters exhibited larger eosinophil and lymphocyte populations within sinusoids and peri-sinusoidal areas but showed no MGCs in granulomas. A striking decline in IL-2 production was noted. These results suggest that cyclophosphamide induces a delay in the natural evolution of L. donovani-induced granulomatous hepatic inflammation.