| Abstract: | SYNOPSIS. Two liquid media (F-29 and F-32) have been developed for the serial cultivation of T. cruzi amastigotes. F-29 consists of synthetic tissue culture fluid 199, trypticase, hemin and bovine fetal serum; F-32 is F-29 plus chicken plasma. The inocula for serial cultivation in both media contained over 99% epimastigotes. The proportion of structural types in the original inocula did not change significantly during 10 serial passages in F-29 medium at 29.5 C. However, in the 2nd passage in F-29 medium at 35.5 C most of the organisms becme amastigotes, and after several more subcultures over 92% were amastigotes. During the original passage in F-32 medium at 35.5 C. over 90% of the organisms were trypomastigotes with terminal kinetoplasts. After several more passages, and regardless of incubation temperature (29.5–35.5C), over 94% became amastigotes. In either F-29 or F-32 a 7-fold increase of amastigotes may be obtained after 4-day incubation at 35.5 C. |
