Figure 6.
Depletion of macrophages abolished nematode infection-induced increase in intestinal smooth muscle thickness (A) and was associated with a reduced mRNA expression of IGF-1 (B). Mice were infected with N. brasiliensis (Nb) or treated with vehicle (VEH). Clodronate-(Cl2MDP) or control PBS- (PBS) containing liposomes were administrated (i.v., 0.2 ml at days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 after inoculation) to deplete macrophages. Changes in smooth muscle thickness were assessed in Giemsa-stained sections (A); or whole tissue was processed for the measurement of mRNA expression of IGF-1 by real-time quantitative PCR (B). *p<0.05 vs the respective WT-VEH; ϕp<0.05 vs the respective PBS (n≥5 for each group).