title: Morphologic effects of artemisinin in Plasmodium falciparum.
abstract: Ultrastructural changes induced in Plasmodium falciparum by artemisinin were studied in vitro. Electron microscopic autoradiography was performed on infected erythrocytes that were exposed in vitro to 3H-dihydroartemisinin and 14C-artemisinin. These drugs consistently were located in food vacuoles and mitochondria. Two hours after administration, changes were observed in parasite mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and nuclear envelope. At four hours, in addition to the earlier changes, nuclear membranes and, to a lesser extent, some plasma membranes formed myelin figures. In addition, there was a disappearance of ribosomes, and a destruction of food vacuole membranes. These changes may lead to the total disorganization of the parasites. Approximately 30% of the parasites manifested these alterations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeno
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyoshima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Meshnick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benakis
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Milhous
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aikawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037621:Artemisinins; D001345:Autoradiography; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C031327:artemisinin