Mast Cells Kinetics during Experimental Schistosomiasis mansoni in Mice

Increased number of mast cells at the site of infection is widely regarded as important host defense against parasites. The kinetics of mucosal mast cells and connective tissue mast cells responses were studied in the intestines of 68 female CFLP mice infected with 100 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. The number of mucosal mast cells and the connective tissue mast cells increased from week 3 and week 6 respectively. While the number of connective tissue mast cells was still increasing during the chronic phase of the infection, the number of mucosal mast cells continuously decreased as the infection matured. The number of both cells was always greater in the proximal part of the small intestine. Their distribution within the injured areas appeared to depend on other factors than parasites.