Mechanism of tissue damage through free oxygen radicals during hepatic amoebiasis in guinea pigs.

The capacity of Kupffer cells and blood monocytes to release free oxygen radicals was studied by chemiluminescence (CL) response during hepatic amebiasis in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs infected with Entamoeba histolytica intramesenterically were sacrificed on days 0, 2, 5 and 8 post-infection. Hepatic lesions were graded I-IV. A significant increase in the CL response was observed from day 2 post-infection and it increased with the progress of infection. Maximum increase was observed on the 8th post infection day. Animals with grade III or IV hepatic lesions had significantly elevated CL response. The degree of hepatic lesions correlated well with the CL response (P less than 0.01). It is postulated that tissue damage during hepatic amoebiasis may be mediated through enhanced release of free oxygen radicals by Kupffer cells and blood monocyte.