The effect of praziquantel on Schistosoma mansoni.
3 x 10(-6)M praziquantel fails to completely paralyse miracidia and cercariae in a short time but they are not infective when maintained in the solution. 3 x 10(-5)M praziquantel prevents infected snails shedding cercariae but does not kill daughter sporocyts or developing cercariae. As the action of praziquantel on adult worms is not blocked by 10(-2)M mecamylamine, pempidine or carbachol, but is reduced by calcium depletion, it is suggested that praziquantel may act by permitting calcium influx to muscle cells causing them to contract.
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008464:Mecamylamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D010393:Pempidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology
D012556:Schistosomicides; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D008464:Mecamylamine; D001285:Atropine; D002217:Carbachol; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D010393:Pempidine