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Published on: March 3, 2017
Changes in nurse cell nuclei during synchronous infection with Trichinella spiralis
D Despommier1, W F Symmans, R Dell
1Division of Tropical Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
Abstract:
The rate of enlargement of nuclei was determined on 4-microns-thick sections of synchronously infected mouse thigh muscle. Normal muscle nuclei had a geometric mean volume of 84 microns and a range of 42-170 microns 3. At days 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 and 6 mo after infection, mean nuclear volume was 177 (100-315) microns 3, 254 (140-462) microns 3, 278 (172-447) microns 3, 681 (407-1,138) microns 3, 512 (326-804) microns 3, and 509 (298-870) microns 3, respectively. Size of nuclei for any given day followed a log normal distribution. On days 7 and 8 after infection, 31% of enlarged nuclei had 2 nucleoli, whereas only 15% had 2 nucleoli on day 10. One percent of enlarged nuclei in 6-mo-old nurse cells had double nucleoli. The number of enlarged nuclei in 6-mo-old nurse cells was determined from serial sections of infected tongue muscle. Each nurse cell contained an average of 40 enlarged nuclei. Sixty-four percent of nurse cells examined (n = 55) had between 30 and 60 enlarged nuclei. However, there was great variation in the range (7-142). These results are discussed in relation to the development of the nurse cell.
Insights
Nuclear enlargement in mouse muscle cells was studied following infection. Infected cells showed significant nuclear volume increases and changes in nucleoli number, impacting nurse cell development.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
- Muscle Physiology
Background:
- Nuclei undergo significant changes during cellular processes.
- Parasitic infections can alter host cell morphology and function.
- Nurse cells play a crucial role in providing resources for developing organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify nuclear enlargement in mouse muscle cells after infection.
- To investigate the relationship between nuclear volume, nucleoli number, and nurse cell development.
- To analyze the distribution and variation of enlarged nuclei within nurse cells.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of nuclear volumes from 4-microns-thick sections of infected mouse thigh muscle.
- Analysis of nuclear size distribution using log-normal distribution.
- Determination of nucleoli number in enlarged nuclei at various time points post-infection.
- Quantification of enlarged nuclei within nurse cells using serial sections of infected tongue muscle.
Main Results:
- Mean nuclear volume increased significantly post-infection, peaking at day 8 (681 microns³).
- Nuclear size followed a log-normal distribution.
- The percentage of enlarged nuclei with two nucleoli varied over time, with a decrease by day 10.
- Nurse cells contained an average of 40 enlarged nuclei, with considerable variation (7-142).
Conclusions:
- Parasitic infection induces substantial nuclear enlargement in host muscle cells.
- Changes in nuclear morphology and nucleoli number are associated with the infection timeline.
- The number of enlarged nuclei within nurse cells suggests a significant cellular response to infection, impacting their development.
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