Vital fluorescence microscopy of lysosomes in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages during their interactions with microorganisms and active substances. III. Interactions of macrophages with endozoits of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and their soluble substance.

Macrophages with lysosomes pinpointed by quinacrine-induced fluorescence were infected with the endozoits of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain (peritoneal exudate of infected mouse), or treated with liquid (acellular) fraction of the same exudate. Dead toxoplasmas ingested by macrophages come into contact with the stained lysosomes of the cell and acquire a diffuse fluorescence. Viable toxoplasmas do not give fluorescence, which means that they do not come into contact with lysosomes, either primary or secondary. This supports the hypothesis that toxoplasmas can prevent lysosomes from fusing with the phagosomes of the host cell. Moderate doses of soluble products of toxoplasmas contained in peritoneal exudate cause an excessive output of macrophage lysosomes which points to the activation of macrophages; high doses of challenge inhibit the phagocytosis of toxoplasmas and damage macrophages. The pathogenicity of toxoplasmas due to their ability to inhibit the fusion of lysosomes and phagosomes and the cellular action of their soluble products is discussed.