Ultrastructural Study of the Effects of Chloroquine and Verapamil on Plasmodium Falciparum

Gretta H. Jacobs Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Search for other papers by Gretta H. Jacobs in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Ayo M. J. Oduola
Search for other papers by Ayo M. J. Oduola in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Dennis E. Kyle
Search for other papers by Dennis E. Kyle in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Wilbur K. Milhous
Search for other papers by Wilbur K. Milhous in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Samuel K. Martin
Search for other papers by Samuel K. Martin in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Masamichi Aikawa Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Search for other papers by Masamichi Aikawa in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1988.39.15
Volume/Issue:
Volume 39: Issue 1
Page(s):
15–20
Restricted access
Get Permissions

Verapamil, a calcium antagonist, has recently been shown to reverse chloroquine resistance in malarial parasites in vitro. We report the first ultrastructural morphological changes associated with this phenomenon using chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant clones of Plasmodium falciparum. While the administration of 6.3 × 10-8 M chloroquine had little morphological effect on the chloroquine-resistant strain, the combination of chloroquine and verapamil resulted in typical chloroquine-related food vacuolar swelling with increased amounts of granular matrix. Secondary morphological changes included degeneration of nuclei, mitochondria, and other organelles. These effects appeared similar to those in the chloroquine-sensitive strain of P. falciparum treated with chloroquine alone or with the chloroquine/verapamil combination. Furthermore mild food vacuolar changes were seen in a small number of parasites (from both chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant groups) exposed to high concentrations (1 × 10-4 M) of verapamil alone.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1988
Accepted:
11 Dec 1987
|
Published Online:
Jul 1988
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637

Expert Committee on Hepatitis

First Report. World Health Organization Technical Report Series No. 62 (Available also in French). 26 pp. Geneva, W.H.O., Palais des Nations. March, 1953. Price 1/6, $0.20, Fr. fr. 65.-; Sw. fr. 0.80

Parasitic Infections of Man

by Harry Most, M.D., Editor. Symposium No. 4 of the Section on Microbiology, New York Academy of Medicine. 220 pp., cloth. New York, Columbia University Press, 1951. $4.50

Author:
G. F. Otto
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 696 378 21
Full Text Views 13 3 1
PDF Downloads 16 4 1
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save