title: Radiorespirometric detection of macrofilaricidal activity in vitro.
abstract: An in vitro method for studying radiorespiration has been adapted to single macrofilariae. Using this method viable (but not heat-killed) Dipetalonema viteae and Onchocera gibsoni macrofilariae evolved measurable amounts of 14CO2 from L-[U-14C]glutamine. Nonlinear and less uniform rates of 14CO2 evolution were demonstrated with D-[U-14C]glucose, [1-14C]acetate and [1-14C]octanoate. These findings led us to develop an in vitro screen in which inhibition of 14CO2 evolution from L-[U-14C]glutamine was used as a parameter for gauging macrofilaricidal activity. Using this screen we have examined the activity of 17 'so-called' antifilarial standards and found a greater degree of sensitivity than shown by other biochemical criteria. Other data obtained suggest a role for radiorespirometry in determining the viability of fragments of Onchocerca tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Sciences, Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Comley
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004153:Dipetalonema / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005369:Filaricides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D005369:Filaricides; D005973:Glutamine; D002245:Carbon Dioxide