The effect of propranolol on metabolism and on membrane-associated polysaccharide components of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum.

The effects of propranolol on the metabolism (cell growth, cell differentiation and cell respiration) as well as on membrane-associated polysaccharide components of Herpetomonas muscarum muscarum were investigated. At the dose of 10(-2) and 10(-3) mM the drug increased significantly the number of the more differentiated opisthomastigote form of the protozoan, whereas at higher concentrations (10(-1) mM) total inhibition of growth occurred with gross cell lysis. Propranolol (10(-3) mM) enhanced the oxidation of glycerol and more markedly that of glucose, glutamic acid and proline. The pattern of the composition of membrane-associated polysaccharides was also substantially changed: the drug (10(-3) mM) induced a preferential synthesis of galactose and a marked decrease of xylose and mannose, whereas glucose content remained practically unchanged.