INFECTION OF ARMADILLOS WITH MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE - ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES OF PERIPHERAL-NERVE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 100  (4) , 175-181
Abstract
Peripheral nerves of armadillos were studied 16-30 mo. after intradermal or intravenous inoculation with M. leprae. Numerous bacilli were found within macrophages, Schwann cells, and perineurial cells/ endothelial cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts were involved also. The bacilli were characteristically contained in membrane limited vacuoles that were interpreted as phagosomes. Some of the phagosomes contained granular, membranous and vesicular debris considered bacillary degradation products, suggesting that lysosomal activity was present witin the phagosomes. Multivesicular bodies, a few of which contained bacilli, were abundant in macrophages and perineurial cells. An unusual proliferation of irregular tubulovesicular profiles was noted, especially in Schwann and perineurial cell cytoplasm, surrounding and within phagosomes containing bacilli. The pattern of cellular involvement of neural structures with M. leprae was similar to that observed in lepromatous leprous neuritis in humans.

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