Cytochemical Observations on Malic Dehydrogenase, Lipase, Nonspecific Esterase and Monoamine Oxidase in Chick Liver Cell Cultures Infected with Trichomonas vaginalis*

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. In trypsin‐dispersed chick liver cell cultures malic dehydrogenase activity is localized in granules distributed thruout the cytoplasm of fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and macrophages. A progressive increase of the enzymic activity in all cell culture elements, except for phagocytes whose external or internal surfaces remain in direct contact with the parasites, accompanies infection of the cultures with a relatively pathogenic strain of Trichomonas vaginalis. In such phagocytes most staining for malic dehydrogenase is lost. Epithelial cells and parasite‐free macrophages in experimental cultures also have a diffuse cytoplasmic reaction. No lipase activity is present in fibroblasts, but epithelial cells and macrophages in chick liver cell cultures contain numerous reactive granules. A strong diffuse cytoplasmic reaction is found in the epithelial cells and a weaker one in the control phagocytes. In cultures infected with T. vaginalis the enzyme is lost progressively from the epithelium and from those macrophages which have engulfed the parasites or whose external surfaces are invested with the flagellates; however, no significant changes in lipase activity can be found in parasite‐free experimental phagocytes. In all cell types found in chick liver cultures, the reaction for nonspecific esterase is localized in cytoplasmic inclusions of varying size, some of which tend to accumulate along the cell membranes and around the nuclei. In addition, a weak diffuse cytoplasmic reaction is seen in the epithelial cells. Most cells in cultures infected with T. vaginalis have a significant increase in esterase activity, the exception being the macrophages which contain parasites within their cytoplasm or those with flagellates applied closely to their external surfaces. Only a few specifically stained granules are retained by such phagocytes. Monoamine oxidase activity is limited to fine granules dispersed in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and macrophages of control cultures. Infection of chick liver cultures with T. vaginalis results in lowered enzyme activity in non‐phagocytic cells as well as in macrophages with engulfed flagellates and in those whose external surface are invested with the parasites. The number of reactive inclusions appears to increase in trichomonad‐free phagocytes of experimental cultures.

Clinical and Microbiological Aspects ofTrichomonas vaginalis

“…Honigberg's research into trichomonal pathogenesis provided much of the groundwork for later researchers. While searching for a virulence assay (62, 131), Honigberg and coworkers used microscopy and biochemical analysis to define trichomonad structure and function (89,132,169,(300)(301)(302) as well as many behavioral and cytochemical interactions between the parasite and the host cell (129,(262)(263)(264). Modern research has focused on the initial events required to establish infection.…”