Amine production by Leishmania mexicana.

Growing promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana mexicana excreted large amounts of urea and ammonia into the culture medium. Both promastigotes and amastigotes in short-term, high-density cultures also produced urea and ammonia; the excretion rate was higher in promastigotes. Putrescine was excreted by growing promastigotes but spermine and spermidine excretion apparently did not occur. Both promastigote and amastigote cell extracts contained putrescine and spermidine. Both polyamines, but especially putrescine, were present at higher concentrations in promastigotes than amastigotes. Trace amounts of spermine were found in the promastigote extracts but none was detected in the amastigotes.