Effect of pentamidine isethionate on the ultrastructure and morphology of<i>Leishmania mexicana amazonensis in vitro</i>

Abstract

Ultrastructural observations showed that pentamidine isethionate causes disruption of the mitochondrion of Leishmania mexicana amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes in vitro at 25 and 32°C, respectively. The distension and loss of structure of the mitochondrion was followed by the disruption and condensation of the kinetoplast. In 10−5 M pentamidine, these changes were observed in promastigotes after five hours and in amastigotes after 24 hours. Transformation of amastigotes to promastigotes at 25°C in vitro was inhibited by 10−6 M pentamidine and slowed down by 10−7 M pentamidine.