Effect of Platelet-Activating Factor on the Process of Cellular Differentiation of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum |
| |
| Authors: | ANGELA H. C. S. LOPES PATRICIA M. L. DUTRA CLAUDIA O. RODRIGUES MAURILIO J. SOARES JAYME ANGLUSTER RENATO S. B. CORDEIRO |
| |
| Affiliation: | Instituto de Microbiologia, UFRJ, Ilha do Fundöo, 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;Department de Ultraestrutura e Biologia Celular, Fundaçäo Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.;Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacodinčmica, Fundaçäo Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
| |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT. The effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF), at doses ranging from 10−6 M to 10−10 M, on cell growth and on cell differentiation of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum were investigated. Cell differentiation was evaluated by both light and electron microscopy. At the concentrations used, PAF did not interfere with the protozoan growth. However, parasites grown in the presence of PAF (10−6 M) were significantly more differentiated than those grown in the absence of PAF, since the first day of culture. On the first two days of culture, PAF doses ranging from 10−10 M to 10−7 M, did not significantly interfere with the differentiation of these parasites, although after the third day of culture, all PAF doses used significantly increased the protozoan differentiation. Specific PAF receptor antagonists totally abrogated (WEB 2086 and WEB 2170)or significantly decreased (BN 52021) PAF effect on cell differentiation. These findings indicate PAF triggers the process of cell differentiation in Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum and suggest these parasites have receptors for PAF. |
| |
| Keywords: | Cell receptors PAF receptor antagonists trypanosomatids |
|
|
