The hamster cheek pouch: an immunologically privileged site suitable to the study of granulomatous infections

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo

M. S. P. De Arruda²  M. R. Montenegro¹ 

[1] ,Universidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Ciências Departamento de Ciências BiológicasBauru SP ,Brazil

关键词: Hamster cheek pouch;    Inflammatory reactions;    Leprosy;    Paracoccidioidomycosis;    granuloma;    Mycobacterium leprae;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0036-46651995000400004

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The hamster check pouch is an invagination of oral mucosa, characterized histologically as skin-like. In this paper we describe anatomical, histological and embriological features of the pouch and coment on the pouch as an immunologically privileged site since it lacks lymphatic drainage and has few Langerhans cells. We present the review from literature and our observations after inoculation in the pouch of mycobacteriae (BCG, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae) and a fungus (Paracoccidioides brasiliensis). Lesions in the pouch were granulomatous but smaller and long lasting; even granulomatous, the reaction was inefficient to control the proliferation of agents compared with inoculation in other sites, except for BCG. Appearance of immunity was also delayed or absent and, when it was detected, a sharp decrease in number of agents in pouch lesions was observed. These observations make the pouch an interesting site for the study of the role of immune system in infeccious diseases and in granuloma formation.

【 授权许可】

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