A simple method for the identification of compounds which inhibit tubulin polymerization in filarial worms.
The incubation in vitro of excised ovaries of Dirofilaria immits in medium containing mebendazole between 10(-5) and 10(-8) M for four or six hours results in the accumulation of up to 20% of oogonial cells in arrested mitotic metaphase. In aceto-orcein-stained squashes of the tissue, cells possess condensed chromosomes but no detectable spindle microtubules. Similar results were obtained with colchicine, but the lowest effective concentration of this drug was 10(-7) M. This procedure affords a simple and rapid method for detecting compounds capable of inhibiting tubulin polymerization in filarial worms.
D000818:Animals; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004182:Dirofilaria / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000187:drug effects*; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D008722:Methods; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D009867:Oogonia / Q000187:drug effects; D014404:Tubulin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014404:Tubulin; D008463:Mebendazole; D003078:Colchicine