MICROCALORIMETRIC STUDIES ON TETRAHYMENA-PYRIFORMIS .2. PHOTOSENSITIZER TOXIC EFFECT ON TETRAHYMENA-PYRIFORMIS

Using a microcalorimetric method, the effects on Tetrahymena pyriformis of photosensitizers YHPD, TSPP and TAMP metabolic activity have been determined. The experimental results indicate that the prophyrin compounds TSPP and TAMP strongly affect T. pyriformis metabolism, but inhibition due to YHPD is slight. The photosensitization effects follow the sequence TAMP > TSPP > YHPD. These results are consistent with the results of SEM and TEM methods, and show that photosensitizers in T. pyriformis cells lead to similar cellular structural damage in the same sequence.