Morphological and morphometric study of the alterations on young mouse parotid gland with subpatent Chagas' disease.

In the present study we describe the morphological and morphometric alterations induced by two Trypanosoma cruzi strains (strains Y and Bolivia) in the mouse parotid gland during the subpatent period of infection. The acinar cells of animals inoculated 27 d after birth showed reduced eosinophilia, greater chromatin condensation, reduced height, and basally dislocated nucleus. The area occupied by the acini was decreased (999.38 micron 2 to 546.76 micron 2) and the volume of the acinar cells was reduced (116.28 micron 3 to 63.28 micron 3). Reduced height (21.20 micron to 14.28 micron) and decreased nuclear volume (125.28 micron 3 to 77.28 micron 3) occurred in the striated ducts. In the excretory duct there was reduced nuclear volume (121.16 micron 3 to 76.14 micron 3) and decreased height of the epithelial cells (26.05 micron to 14.00 micron). The presence of lymphoplasmocyte infiltrates was also observed. The changes induced by the Bolivia strain were qualitatively similar to those induced by strain Y, but more severe in nature. The present results indicate that infection with T. cruzi induces delayed development of the mouse parotid gland during the subpatent phase.