Figure 5

Amoebicide effect of T-001, T-011, and T-016 on ex vivo cultures of hamster hepatic slices. Non-infected (control) liver slices (a) shows the typical histological structure of hepatic tissue: hepatocytes (h), sinusoidal space (s) and central vein (cv). (b) Liver slices infected with trophozoites shows numerous amoebae (arrows) and a pronounced dilatation of the sinusoidal spaces (*). The amoebicide effect of metronidazole (c) is evident by a diminution in the number of amoebae per microscopic field; most of them were dead and in process of disintegration (dotted line). (d) T-001, (e) T-011, and (f) T-016, also induced a decrease in the number of amoebae and provoked similar morphological damage to metronidazole (arrows), and in addition, induced inflammatory reactions (dotted area in the insert of Fig. e). Non-infected slices were also incubated in the presence of the synthetic compounds (top left figure inserts in d–f), while T-001 and T-016 induced regenerative changes and cytoplasmic vacuolization, T-011 induced focal hepatocellular necrosis and acute inflammation (dotted line in the insert). H&E stain (Total magnification: 400X).