EN
Mice received 5 ng of ricin 24 hours after infection (experiment I) or 1 ng of ricin twice, 24 hours and 17 days of infection (experiment II). Animals were killed in 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 60 days after infection. In the jejunum and masseter muscle sections, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes, mast cells and eosinophils were studied. Heavy suppression of CD8⁺ lymphocytes, strong eosinophils and less pronounced mast cells stimulation was observed in the jejunum of mice received ricin (experiment I). Worm expulsion in intestine was faster than in the control (opposite results in experiment II). The composition of cells infiltration in the muscle was in both experiments similar to the control, however, fewer Cn4⁺ lymphocytes were observed in larva capsule and there were fewer muscle larvae. Therefore CD8⁺ cells are believed to take part in restricting only the muscle stage of trichinellosis.