EFFECT OF ETHIDIUM-BROMIDE ON GROWTH AND MORPHOLOGY OF LEISHMANIA-TARENTOLAE PROMASTIGOTES INVITRO

Abstract

Incubation of L. tarentolae promastigotes in 0.01 .mu.g/ml ethidium bromide in Neo Ye medium for 96 h resulted in 60% inhibition of cell growth and 91% dyskinetoplasty. After 48 h incubation in ethidium bromide > 50% of the cells were scored dyskinetoplastic by light microscopy although EM examination revealed that most promastigotes contained at least a small amount of k[kinetoplast]DNA. A few of the treated cells undergoing division contained 2 kinetoplasts.sbd.one devoid of kDNA and the other with a reduced amount of kDNA as seen in the electron micrographs.