title: Apoptosis of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi amastigotes in hamsters infected with visceral leishmaniasis.
abstract: Apoptosis in amastigotes from hamsters infected with visceral leishmaniasis was absent 30-day post-infection but appeared 90-day post-infection in the liver and spleen, as analysed using the TUNEL method. Necrosis was not present in these tissues and the nuclei of macrophages harbouring apoptotic amastigotes were preserved. Amastigote DNA fragmentation was demonstrated using agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA fragmentation was evident 90-day post-infection, coinciding with the occurrence of apoptosis of amastigotes in the tissues. Apoptosis of Leishmania amastigotes in vivo may constitute a mechanism that regulates growth of the parasite population during infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Soroepidemiologia e Imunobiologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 05403-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José A L
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lindoso
authors.forename: Paulo C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cotrim
authors.forename: Hiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006224:Cricetinae; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007891:Leishmania / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D013154:Spleen / Q000469:parasitology*; D013997:Time Factors