[Cytochemical study of different stages in the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. I. Amylopectin and lipids in endozoites].

Abstract

Attempts were made to localize cytochemically acid micopolysaccharides, in addition to sulphate groups of mucosubstances in Toxoplasma endozoites of SS-119 and RH strains with negative results. Amylopectin was found to be the only polysaccharide so far detected in the endozoite stage, using the PAS technique. With RH strain toxoplasmas, the dynamics of amylopectin was followed within 6 days after mouse inoculation. On day 2, toxoplasmas and the host cells of the mouse peritoneal exudate being practically PAS-negative, the amount of amylopectin increased progressively towards day 6. The immune response of the host may be presumably involved in the pattern of this dynamics. Phospholipids were detected in the cytoplasm of intra- and extracellular endozoites of strain SS-119. Little, if any, amount of neutral fat was observed. Of special interest is the increased phospholipid content in the infected host cells.