Trypanosoma cruzi: ultrastructural cytochemistry of mitochondrial enzymes

Mitochondrial enzymes were detected cytochemically in all developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi maintained in tissue cultures at the light and electron microscope levels. Cytochrome oxidase (CO) was detected using the diaminobenzidine method. Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), NADPH diaphorase, α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), and β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBDH) were detected using the dystyril nitroblue tetrazolium salt. A reaction product indicative of CO, SDH, ICDH, and NADPH diaphorase activities was found either in the inner mitochondrial membrane or in the cristae. β-HBDH and α-GPDH activities, however, were localized only in the inner membrane. No difference in the localization and intensity of the reaction was observed in the various stages of T. cruzi.