Carbohydrates Detection in the Hepatic Egg - Granuloma System Using Lectin Histochemistry

This study aims to evalúate the egg-granuloma system in hepatic tissues using lectin histochemistry in experimental Schistosomiasis. Eight Swiss mice were infected with a local strain of Schistosoma mansoni, being submitted forty days later to a perfusión after which slices of liver (4|J.m) were prepared. The tissue samples were incubated with the following peroxidase conjugated lectins: Peanut agglutinin (PNA), Wheat Germ agglutinin (WGA), and Concanavalin A (Con A). All lectins recognized the glycoconjugates in the adult worm tegument. In the hepatic tissue, WGA presented the highest staining followed by PNA and Con A. The PNA presented the most intense staining of the egg-granuloma system while WGA stained the hepatic sinusoid cells and Con A bound preferentially the fibrosis rings of granuloma and the surrounding hepatic parenquima. WGA and PNA indicated the presence of residues of N-acetyl-glucosamine and galactose in the surface of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in the hepatic granulomas. In conclusión, using PNA, Con A and WGA our study presented different aspects of the egg-granuloma and Tegument of Schistosoma mansoni as well as indicated differences in the peri-ovular granulomas indicating alterations in the cellular mechanism of expression of surface carbohydrates during progression of the Schistosomiasis.