title: Damage of Trypanosoma cruzi deoxyribonucleic acid by nitroheterocyclic drugs.
abstract: Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes pretreated with the trypanocidal drugs nifurtimox (10 or 100 microM) or benznidazole (38 or 380 microM) showed an increased number of strand-breaks, as revealed by (a) trapping of alkali-denatured kDNA by nitrocellulose filters and (b) electrophoresis in an alkaline 2% agarose gel. Similar damage was observed in nuclear DNA (nDNA), as detected by centrifugation in an alkaline-sucrose gradient. DNA damage was reversible since reincubation in fresh medium for 24 hr restored filtration and electrophoretic and sedimentation patterns to normal.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA; D009547:Nifurtimox / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009581:Nitrofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009581:Nitrofurans; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D004247:DNA; D009547:Nifurtimox; C009999:benzonidazole