Evaluating the Glucantime Concentration for the ex vivo Glial Cell Model of Antimony-resistant Leishmania tropica Amastigotes
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Objective: Because the protocols used in the treatment of leishmaniasis can be toxic and have many limitations, such as the
development of resistance against such protocols, new treatment options are needed, especially against resistant patients. Ex vivo
models may be a good source for evaluating new drug options for patients with antimony-resistant parasites. This study aimed to
evaluate the Glucantime concentration for our ex vivo glial cell amastigote model we had defined in previous work.
Methods: We prepared the astroglial cell culture from brains of 2 to 3 day old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats under sterile
conditions by modifying McCarthy’s method. Four plates of cells were infected with antimony-resistant Leishmania tropica
promastigotes. After 24 h of incubation, we added Glucantime to 3 plates with different concentrations. After 72 h, we removed
the supernatant and then dried, fixed, and stained the plates with Giemsa to count the amastigotes in the glial cells.
Results: We observed the amastigotes in glial cells in the control flask. Glial cells were ruined in flasks, which include 75 µg/
mL and 37.5 µg/mL Glucantime. The number of amastigotes per 100 glial cells was 116 for the flask with 7.5 µg/mL Glucantime
concentration, while 487 for the control flask.
Conclusion: We found that while high concentrations of Glucantime were toxic for glial cells, 7.5 µg/mL Glucantime concentration
managed to reduce the number of Leishmania tropica amastigotes in glial cells.