Effects of dihydroartemisinin on fine structure of erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain.
OBJECTIVE
The fine structural changes of Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain after treatment with the dihydroartemisinin (DATM) were observed.


METHODS
DATM 180 mg.kg-1.d-1 was given ig to outbreed NIH mice infected with P. berghei ANKA strain. Blood samples were collected, embedded and examined by electron microscopy.


RESULTS
In P. berghei ANKA strain, 1 h after drug administration, the parasites food vacuole membranes were destroyed, and the pigment grains showed some changes. The nucleus membrane, cytomembrane, and food vacuole membranes were stratified 2 h after administration. At the same time, swelling and separation of the outer and inner membrane or shrinking of the mitochondria were seen. Stripped nuclear and cytoplasm membrane were developed and vacuolizations were seen 4 h later. Eight hours after administration, a large number of parasite structures were destroyed except for a few parasite autophagic vacuoles.


CONCLUSIONS
DATM was a fast-acting and effective antimalarial drug. Its primary target is the membrane system. No obvious resistant characteristics were found upto 24 generations after resistant induction test for 4 months.
Chen
P Q
PQ
Tropical Medicine Institute, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China. doczhang@163.net
Yuan
J
J
Du
Q Y
QY
Chen
L
L
Li
G Q
GQ
Huang
Z Y
ZY
Yang
D D
DD
Wu
L N
LN
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037621:Artemisinins; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C039060:artenimol