Studies on erythrocytic methemoglobin reductase systems in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice.
BACKGROUND
The methemoglobin reductase system plays a vital role in maintaining the equilibrium between hemoglobin and methemoglobin in blood. Exposure of red blood cells to oxidative stress (pathological/physiological) causes an impairment in this equilibrium.


OBJECTIVE
To study the status of methemoglobin and the related reductase system during Plasmoidum yoelii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection in mice.


METHODS
Mice were divided into two groups viz., normal mice and P. y. nigeriensis infected mice. Malaria infection was induced by intraperitoneal inoculation of 10(6) infected erythrocytes.


RESULTS
The present investigation revealed significant decrease in the activity of methemoglobin reductase, with concomitant rise in methemoglobin content during P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice erythrocytes. This was accompanied with a significant increase in reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid levels. Also the activities of the associated enzymes viz., lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase were found to increase with progressive rise in parasitemia.


CONCLUSIONS
P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice results in impairment of methemoglobin reductase in the host.
Srivastava
S
S
Department of Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Alhomida
A S
AS
Siddiqi
N J
NJ
D000818:Animals; D042966:Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology*; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii; D012016:Reference Values
D006454:Hemoglobins; D008706:Methemoglobin; D042966:Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase