title: In vitro segmentation induction of Mesocestoides corti (Cestoda) tetrathyridia.
abstract: Mesocestoides corti is a suitable model for studying cestode development because of its ability to reproduce asexually and segment in vitro. The cultured parasite is also capable of sexual differentiation and, probably, reproduction. To establish conditions that increase the efficiency of in vitro M. corti larvae (tetrathyridia) segmentation, we tested the effects of an inducing agent and some physical parameters in cultures. We found that a 5% CO2-95% N2 gas phase, an incubation temperature of 39 C (instead of 37 C), and a 24-hr pretreatment with trypsin (10(5) BAEE/ml, BAEE = Na-benzoil-L-arginine ethyl ester unit of trypsin activity) in Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) are able to increase individually or synergistically the segmentation rate of tetrathyridia. A segmentation rate of up to 100% was achieved on day 4 of culture, when all these conditions were used simultaneously, in comparison with an average rate of 40% obtained not before day 11 in cultures without any inducing treatment. Fetal bovine serum is essential for segmentation, and a concentration of 20% was established as the standard for induction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mellssa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Markoski
authors.forename: Cristiano V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bizarro
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Norbel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Galanti
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaha
authors.forename: Henrique B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000196:embryology; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008645:Mesocestoides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014357:Trypsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; D014357:Trypsin