Biological effects of lithium chloride on the insect trypanosomatidHerpetomonas samuelpessoai

Abstract

SummaryEffects of lithium chloride on growth, differentiation and respiration ofHerpetomonas samuelpessoai, cultivated in a synthetic medium were studied both at 28 and 37 °C. Low concentration of lithium chloride (15 mM) stimulated growth at 37 °C. In addition, the protozoon tolerated high concentrations (60–150 mM) of the salt at both incubation temperatures. In general, 15 mM lithium chloride increased and 150 mM decreased oxygen uptake when glucose, glutamic acid and proline were used as substrates. However, at 28 °C after incubation for 96 h, the highest concentration increased oxygen uptake in the presence of glucose. Sodium butyrate induced cell differentiation inH. samuelpessoaiboth at 28 and 37 °C. High concentration (150 mM) of lithium chloride inhibited cell differentiation ofH. samuelpessoaiinduced by both controlled growth conditions and butyrate addition. The results obtained are described in this paper.