Research Article

Purinergic Antagonist Suramin Aggravates Myocarditis and Increases Mortality by Enhancing Parasitism, Inflammation, and Reactive Tissue Damage in Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Mice

Figure 1

Representative microscopic images of the heart from mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and treated with the nonselective purinergic antagonist suramin (bright field microscopy, toluidine blue and basic fuchsine staining, bar = 50 μm). In the groups INF, SR5, 10, and 20, the highlighted images represent amastigote nests of T. cruzi. Arrows: cardiomyocytes (heart parenchyma), stars: connective tissue (heart stroma) with leucocytes infiltrates. SAL: 0.9% NaCl solution; INF: untreated and infected; SR5, SR10, and SR20: infected and treated with 5, 10, or 20 mg suramin/kg, respectively.