ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE INVITRO INTERACTION OF TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI BLOOD-STREAM FORMS AND MOUSE PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (2) , 99-109
Abstract
Macrophages are normally host cells for T. cruzi in the vertebrate host. Since the process of interiorization of this parasite into those cells is still controversial, EM was used to study the in vitro uptake of T. cruzi bloodstream forms by mouse peritoneal macrophages. After 15 min of interaction with macrophages, parasites are interiorized by a process of phagocytosis in which both parasite and host cell seem to play a specific role. Sequential steps of the uptake process and the simultaneous ultrastructural alterations of the host cell morphology were studied. A dense amorphous substance interposed between the parasite and the macrophage surface was regularly observed. Although its origin, significance and nature remain unknown, the possibility that it might be released extracellularly by the macrophage in response to the parasite stimulation is discussed.

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