Histological and morphometric investigations of changes induced by the RAL strain of Trypanosoma cruzi in the mouse placenta

Abstract

Pregnant Swiss mice (Mus musculus) were inoculated intraperitoneally with 2 x 10(5) trypomastigotes of the RAL strain of Trypanosoma cruzi on the 7th day of pregnancy and sacrificed on the 19th day of pregnancy. The placenta was sectioned for the assessment of histological and morphometric changes. The RAL strain showed intense tropism for the placenta, with parasitism reaching the three placental layers. There was involvement of the maternal and fetal portions of the placentas, and also of giant cells and spongioblasts. The placentas of infected animals presented sparse areas of degeneration and necrosis, with mild dystrophic calcification of the decidua. The inflammatory process consisted of plasmocytes and lymphocytes, revealing involvement of the decidua. Cytometric study of giant trophoblastic cells showed that the placentas of the infected group were seriously affected, also with respect to cell volume. The changes provoked by the RAL strain in the trophoblastic cells and the difference in behavior observed in the cell population of the various placental regions may affect intrauterine development, probably by a deficient production of hormones such as placental lactogen, which acts as a fetal growth hormone, or indirectly by deficient tissue invasion caused by inefficient utero-placental vascularization, thus impairing fetal nutrition.