Goblet cell hyperplasia induced by Strongyloides venezuelensis-infection in Syrian golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus

Abstract

The goblet cell response was examined in the jejunum of the Syrian golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, following infection with an intestinal helminth, Strongyloides venezuelensis. After subcutaneous inoculation with 3000 infective larvae (L3), the number of adult worms in the small intestine remained stable up to day 20 and then decreased. Before infection, the number of goblet cells in the jejunum was about 7010 villi. The number of goblet cells slowly increased, though not significantly, until day 20 post-infection, and then rapidly increased with an inverse relationship to the worm burden. By day 43, when adult worms were almost completely expelled, the number of goblet cells was about 3-fold higher than that of control animals. Similar vigorous goblet cell hyperplasia has not been reported in Strongyloides spp. infection in other experimental animals. Histochemical study revealed that goblet cells in the jejunum of Syrian golden hamsters, unlike those of other experimental animals, produced and released highly sulfated mucins.