title: The effect of propranolol on metabolism and on membrane-associated polysaccharide components of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum.
abstract: The effects of propranolol on the metabolism (cell growth, cell differentiation and cell respiration) as well as on membrane-associated polysaccharide components of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum were investigated. At the dose of 10(-2) and 10(-3) mM the drug increased significantly the number of the more differentiated opisthomastigote form of the protozoan, whereas at higher concentrations (10(-1) mM) total inhibition of growth occurred with gross cell lysis. Propranolol (10(-3) mM) enhanced the oxidation of glycerol and more markedly that of glucose, glutamic acid and proline. The pattern of the composition of membrane-associated polysaccharides was also substantially changed: the drug (10(-3) mM) induced a preferential synthesis of galactose and a marked decrease of xylose and mannose, whereas glucose content remained practically unchanged.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D011433:Propranolol