Progression of folliculogenesis, morphometry and inflammatory cell numbers in xenografted and in control ovarian fragments.

<p>(a) Primordial, (b) primary, (c) secondary, (d) antral and (e) atretic follicles were noted 10 days after xenotransplantation. (g) Volumetric density (%) of ovarian pieces before and after xenotransplantation showing a higher incidence of follicular atresia and hyperemia (f; <i>P<</i>0.01) after this procedure. (h, i) As demonstrated using (h) NAG and (i) MPO assays in xenografted ovarian wet tissue, higher concentration of host-derived macrophages and neutrophils were observed (<i>P<</i>0.01). Black arrows = healthy follicles; red arrows = atretic follicles; white arrows = blood vessels; black arrowhead = hyperemia; asterisks = oocytes. Bars in a, b, c and e = 80 μm and d and f = 150 μm.</p

Primer sequences used for relative gene expression analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

<p>Primer sequences used for relative gene expression analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction.</p

Histopathological visualization of lesions caused by larval migration in the liver on the 4^th day post-infection and area of the lesions caused by larval migration.

<p>(A and B) Non-infected mouse; (C and D) Single-infected mouse with the presence of necrosis (arrowheads) and mild inflammatory infiltrate (arrows); (E and F) Reinfected mouse with presence of intense inflammatory infiltrate (arrows) and necrosis (*). Lower magnification Bar scale = 50 μm. Higher magnification Bar scale = 200 μm. (G) Area of lesion caused by larval migration in liver on the 4^th day post-infection. Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate differences between groups.</p

Mononuclear and granulocyte cell counting in the blood at different time points after <i>A</i>. <i>suum</i> experimental infection.

<p>(A) Lymphocyte cell counts. (B) Monocyte cell count. (C) Neutrophil cell counts. (D) Eosinophil cell counts. Filled circles–non-infected group; Open circles–single-infected group; and divided circles–reinfected group. Two-way ANOVA test followed by multiple comparison test were used to compare the variances between the groups. Results are shown as the mean ± SEM and were represented ‘*’ and ‘#’. * <i>p</i>< 0.05; ** <i>p</i>< 0.01 *** <i>p</i>< 0.001 and **** <i>p</i>< 0.0001 represent the differences between all groups in the respective time; and # <i>p</i><0.05 and ## <i>p</i><0.01 represent the differences to the non-infected group.</p

Number of larvae recovered from host organs.

<p>(A) Liver on the 4^th day post-infection; (B) lung on the 8^th day post-infection; (C) BAL on the 8^th day post-infection; and (D) gut on the 12^th day post-infection. Filled circles–single infection (SI) group; Open circles–reinfection (RE) group. Mann-Whitney test was used to assess differences between groups and are depicted in the graphs by the p values.</p

Assessment of lung mechanics after single or multiple <i>Ascaris</i> infection in mice.

<p>Forced spirometry was performed to investigate the injury by modifications in lung functions. The parameters assessed were Functional Vital Capacity (A), Inspiratory Capacity (B), Dynamic Compliance Forced (C), Chord Compliance (D), Expiratory Volume at 100 msec (E) and Lung Resistance (F). Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn´s multiple comparisons test was used to evaluate differences among groups. Results are shown as the mean ± SEM. * <i>p</i> < 0.05; ** <i>p</i> < 0.01.</p

Experimental design of <i>Ascaris suum</i> single- and reinfection.

<p>Experimental design of <i>Ascaris suum</i> single- and reinfection.</p

Histopathological visualization of the lesion caused by larval migration in the lungs on the 8^th day post-infection and area of the lesion caused by larval migration.

<p>(A and B) Non-infected mouse; (C and D) Single-infected mouse with slight thickening of the septum at the expense of inflammatory infiltrates, hyperaemia and haemorrhage (*); (E and F) Reinfected mouse with inflammatory infiltrate, intense hyperaemia and haemorrhage, causing extensive thickening of the septum (*). Lower magnification Bar scale = 50 μm. Higher magnification Bar scale = 100 μm. (G) Area of the lesion caused by larval migration and inflammation in the lung on the 8^th day post-infection; Mann-Whitney test was used to assess differences between the groups. (H-I) Optical density representing the MPO and EPO activity in the lung at 8 days post-infection. (H) EPO production in the lung on the 8^th day post-infection. (I) MPO production in the lung on the 8^th day post-infection. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn´s multiple comparisons test was used to evaluate differences between groups. The p values in the graphs represent the significant differences.</p

Levels of haemoglobin, total protein, mononuclear and granulocyte cell counts in the BAL on the 8^th day post-infection.

<p>(A) Haemoglobin levels in BAL on the 8^th day post-infection. (B) Larvae from <i>A</i>. <i>suum</i> surrounded by leukocytes in the BAL 8 days post-infection. (C) Total protein levels in the BAL on the 8^th day post-infection. (D) Total leukocytes counts in the BAL on the 8^th day post-infection. (E) Macrophage counts in the BAL. (F) Lymphocyte cell counts in the BAL. (G) Neutrophil cell counts in the BAL. (H) Eosinophil cell counts in the BAL. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn´s multiple comparisons test was used to evaluate differences among the groups. Results are shown as the mean ± SEM and were represented * and # for was used where * <i>p</i>< 0.05; ** <i>p</i>< 0.01 and *** <i>p</i>< 0.001 for the differences among all groups in the respective time; and # <i>p</i>< 0.05 and ## <i>p</i><0.01 for differences to the control group at the same time.</p