Premium
Mitogenic activity of insulin in the culture of a trypanosome: duration and dose response
Author(s) -
Mackintosh David,
Coleman Kim,
Davies Angela J
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cell biology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1095-8355
pISSN - 1065-6995
DOI - 10.1016/s1065-6995(02)00251-2
Subject(s) - insulin , in vitro , in vivo , biology , medicine , endocrinology , growth inhibition , lag time , biochemistry , genetics , biological system
The effects of insulin on the in vitro growth characteristics of Trypanosoma granulosum were investigated. The insulin growth stimulus had a rapid onset with little or no lag phase but was relatively short lived, growth peaking typically on day 3 or 4 of culture. This contrasted with medium containing 10% foetal calf serum, normally used for in vitro culture of this trypanosome, which after a 3 day lag stimulated sustained log‐phase growth. Insulin demonstrated a biphasic dose response with maximum growth typically occurring at 3–10 μg/ml and a much reduced effect at higher concentrations. These findings suggest a possible role for host insulin and/or trypanosomal insulin‐like molecules in regulating parasite growth in vivo.