(A and B) Ifnar1−/− (open columns) and control B6 WT (closed columns) mice were infected with L. donovani and treated with a depleting anti-CD4 mAb (A) or a blocking anti-IFNγ mAb (B). Parasite burdens were measured in the liver and spleen, as indicated, on day 14 post-infection (p.i.) and compared with mice treated with control antibodies.
(C) The number of MZ macrophages (MZMs) per square millimeter of spleen tissue was determined on day 14 p.i., as indicated. Representative images show nucleated cells (blue, DAPI) and MZMs (indicated by uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran, green) (objective, 20×; scale bars, 500 μm).
n = 4–7 mice per group. Experiments were conducted 2–3 times. Mean ± SEM; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001; significance assessed by one-way ANOVA or Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate.