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Biomedical subjects

R Docampo

Publications and source records attributed to R Docampo.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Biochemical and ultrastructural alterations produced by miconazole and econazole in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Miconazole and econazole, two fungicide imidazole derivatives, completely inhibited growth of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuen strain) at concentrations of about 20 muM. Culturing of T. cruzi in the presence of lower doses of imidazole derivatives produced: decrease of 5,7-diene sterol content in epimastigotes (including ergosterol); disappearance of the nuclear chromatin, vacuolization and decrease in the electron density of the cytoplasm; selective surface alterations as revealed by an increased response to wheat-germ- and phytohemagglutinin. At variance with the effect of miconazole on Candida (De Nollin et al. (1977) Antimicrobial. Agents Chemother. 11, 500-513), miconazole and econazole, under the experimental conditions used, did not increase the rate of hydrogen peroxide generation by T. cruzi.

Agglutination↗
PubMed1980

Deficient metabolic utilization of hydrogen peroxide in Trypanosoma cruzi.

The glutathione peroxidase-glutathione reductase system, an alternative pathway for metabolic utilization of H2O2 [Chance, Sies & Boveris (1979) Physiol. Rev. 59, 527-605], was investigated in Trypanosoma cruzi, an organism lacking catalase and deficient in peroxidase [Boveris & Stoppani (1977) Experientia 33, 1306-1308]. The presence of glutathione (4.9 +/- 0.7 nmol of reduced glutathione/10(8) cells) and NADPH-dependent glutathione reductase (5.3 +/- 0.4 munit/10(8) cells) was demonstrated in the cytosolic fraction of the parasite, but with H2O2 as substrate glutathione peroxidase activity could not be demonstrated in the same extracts. With t-butyl hydroperoxide or cumene hydroperoxide as substrate, a very low NADPH-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity was detected (equivalent to 0.3-0.5 munit of peroxidase/10(8) cells, or about 10% of glutathione reductase activity). Blank reactions of the glutathione peroxidase assay (non-enzymic oxidation of glutathione by hydroperoxides and enzymic oxidation of NADPH) hampered accurate measurement of peroxidase activity. The presence of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase activity in, as well as the absence of catalase from, epimastigote extracts was confirmed. Ascorbate peroxidase activity was cyanide-sensitive and heat-labile, but no activity could be demonstrated with diaminobenzidine, pyrogallol or guaiacol as electron donor. The summarized results support the view that T. cruzi epimastigotes lack an adequate enzyme defence against H2O2 and H2O2-related free radicals.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Evaluation of the toxicity of 3-allyl-beta-lapachone against Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream forms.

In vitro incubation of Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain) with 3-allyl-beta-lapachone was followed by: (1) growth inhibition of epimastigotes, (2) damage to cellular membranes, especially of the mitochondria, alterations in the chromatin structure and swelling of mitochondria, (3) increase in the respiratory rate, (4) increase in the rate of H2O2 generation by the epimastigotes, (5) increase of the rate of lipid peroxidation as detected by malonyldialdehyde formation, (6) decrease or total disappearance of trypomastigotes from mouse-infected blood. This drug might therefore be useful in preventing transmission of Chagas' disease during blood transfusion. It is not, however, active against infections in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Effect of inhibitors of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation on Trypanosoma cruzi respiration and growth.

Antimycin A and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, two specific inhibitors of the b-c1 segment of the respiratory chain, affected the respiration of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote forms. The half-maximum inhibitory concentrations were about 0.05 and 4.0 micrograms/mg cells (dry wt.), respectively. The maximum effect of antimycin (about 80% inhibition of respiration) was at about 0.1 microgram antimycin/mg cells. Differential spectrophotometry of T. cruzi epimastigotes in the presence of antimycin, cyanide (or sulfide) and uncouplers, revealed the presence of functional cytochromes aa3, b and c558. In the stationary growth phase respiration by T. cruzi was completely inhibited by cyanide and effectively inhibited by sulfide, but in the exponential growth phase respiration was about 20% insensitive to 5 mM cyanide. Cyanide- and antimycin-insensitive respiration was completely inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid (2 mM). Antimycin inhibited the operation of the tricarboxylic acids cycle in T. cruzi, as shown by the lesser production of 14CO2 and by the modification of 14C distribution in epimastigotes incubated with [1-14C]glucose, [2-14C]acetate or NaH14CO3. The inhibition of electron transport by antimycin increased the rate of the fumarate reductase reaction, an alternative electron pathway for the oxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides. Addition of carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone to epimastigotes increased the rate of respiration and promoted the oxidation of reduced cytochrome b components, thus showing that these components are subject to respiratory (acceptor) control. Pentachlorophenol similarly affected the cytochrome b redox level but did not modify the rate of respiration. The uncouplers released N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibition of respiration, and uncouplers and cyanide significantly decreased the ATP level in epimastigotes. The combined effects of the assay inhibitors on respiration, cytochrome b redox level, ATP content and energy charge confirmed the operation of oxidative phosphorylation in T. cruzi epimastigotes. Antimycin, uncouplers and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibited growth of T. cruzi, thus proving the essential role of oxidative phosphorylation for the parasite.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1980

Intracellular distribution of carbon dioxide-fixing enzymes in Trypanosoma cruzi and Crithidia fasciculata.

The intracellular distribution of phosphoenopyruvate carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.49) and NADP-linked malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) activity in epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tulahuén strain) and in Crithidia fasciculata has been studied by two procedures: (i) subcellular fractionation by differential centrifugation of homogenates obtained by breaking the cells in a mortar; (ii) selective disruption of cellular membranes by digitonin treatment. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is particulate in both organisms, as is one of the two forms of malic enzyme present in T. cruzi (malic enzyme I), whereas the other malic enzyme of T. cruzi (malic enzyme II) and the single malic enzyme of C. fasciculata are in the cytosol.

Citrate (si)-Synthase↗
PubMed1979

Acetate oxidation by bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma cruzi had a substantial increase in respiration in the presence of acetate. Oxidation of acetate took place via the tricarboxylic acid cycle and involved an antimycin A-sensitive respiratory pathway. Oxygen uptake in the presence of acetate was a sensitive to antimycin A inhibition as was CO2 production. There was a 6--7% residual O2 uptake which was not inhibited by high antimycin concentrations. Human anti-T. cruzi sera had no effect on oxygen uptake.

Acetates↗
PubMed1978

Ultrastructural alterations and peroxide formation induced by naphthoquinones in different stages of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Addition of beta-lapachone, an o-naphthoquinone with bactericidal, cytotoxic, and trypanocidal activities, to Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote and amastigote stages induced the release of O2- and H2O2 from the whole cells into the suspending medium. In the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as reductant beta-lapachone was also able to stimulate O2- and H2O2 production by homogenates of these stages. Electron micrographs showed that in beta-lapachone-treated amastigotes and trypomastigotes, the chromatin is arranged in patches, clearly differing from the normal pattern of chromatin distribution. Alterations of the nuclear, mitochondrial, and cytoplasmic membranes, as well as swelling of the mitochondria were also observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Effect of beta-lapachone on superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Addition of beta-lapachone, an o-naphthoquinone endowed with trypanocidal properties to respiring Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes induced the release of O2- and H2O2 from the whole cells to the suspending medium. The same beta-lapachone concentration (4 micron) that released H2O2 at maximal rate completely inhibited T. cruzi growth in a liquid medium. The position isomer, alpha-lapachone, did not stimulate O2- and H2O2 release, and did not inhibit epimastigote growth. beta-Lapachone was able to stimulate H2O2 production by the epimastigote homogenate in the presence of NADH as reductant. The same effect was observed with the mitochondrial fraction supplemented with NADH, where beta-lapachone enhanced the generation of O2- and H2O2 4.5- and 2.5-fold respectively. beta-Lapachone also increased O2- and H2O2 production (2.5 and 2-fold respectively) by the microsomal fraction with NADPH as reductant. Cyanide-insensitive NADH and NADPH oxidation by the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions (quinone reductase activity) was stimulated to about the same extent by beta-lapachone. alpha-Lapachone was unable to increase O2- and H2O2 production and quinone reductase activity of the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions.

Animals↗