Astrocytes of the cerebral cortex in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni and in liver cirrhosis. A morphological, quantitative and karyometric study.

A morphological, quantitative and karyometric study of astrocytes of the cerebral cortex in patients with liver cirrhosis, hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni and controls is reported. Cell proliferation was commonly seen but there was no significant increase in number of astrocytes in either cirrhosis and schistosomiasis groups. A highly significant increase in astrocyte nuclear volume in cirrhosis and schistosomiasis in relation to controls was observed. The astrocyte average nuclear volume in the cirrhotics was also significantly increased in relation to the schistosomiasis group. From the present data and those reported by other investigators it may be concluded that under normal conditions the astrocyte population is continually reforming and it proliferates in liver cirrhosis and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. It seems that the morphological, quantitative and karyometric astrocyte changes in schistosomiasis may be the result of the same factors as those previously described for liver cirrhosis and experimental portacaval shunt.