title: Stimulative effects of insulin on Toxoplasma gondii replication in 3T3-L1 cells.
abstract: The influence of insulin and 2-deoxy-glucose (D-glucose) on the intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii replication in 3T3-L1 cells was investigated. Insulin and D-glucose had a dose-responsive mitogenic effect on intracellular T. gondii replication and development in 3T3-L1 cells. Insulin concentrations between 10(-2) and 10(-1) microg/ml combination of 4.5 g/l D-glucose in DMEM medium gave maximum stimulus to T. gondii replication. The number of tachyzoites increased rapidly, with the growth peaking typically on day 3 or 4 of culture, and then declining quickly. However, insulin, in the absence of d-glucose, had comparably less effect on T. gondii growth than two of their combination. d-glucose concentrations significantly affected the tachyzoite replication and appear to be indispensable for maintaining the host 3T3-L1 cells.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol and Center for Parasitic Organisms, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: De-Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: San-Qiang
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhao-Rong
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Lun
mesh_terms: D041721:3T3-L1 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D013997:Time Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose