Ultrastructural analysis of β-lapachone-induced surface membrane damage in male adult Schistosoma mansoni BH strain worms.
The present study provides, for the first time, conclusions on the in vitro schistosomicidal properties of β-lap. Adult male Schistosoma mansoni worms of the BH strain were used for the study. Motility, mortality, cell viability and alterations in the tegument were employed as schistosomicidal parameters. Alterations in motility were observed 6h after incubation in concentrations of 50 and 100 μM. β-lap decreased significantly the worm viability, reducing the formation of formazan in 17.7%, 27.4% and 54.8% at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 μM, respectively. Mortality in concentrations of 50 and 100 μM was of 67% and 100%, respectively, after 24h. The death of the parasite was preceded by progressive surface membrane damage, characterized by tegument peeling, spine reduction and erosion, blister formation and rupture, and the emergence of holes. In addition to this, in the anterior portion, intense general edema, areas of cracking with a wrinkled surface, furrows and a fibrous appearance were also observed. The results of the present study thus provide a sound basis for further in-depth studies of the schistosomicidal properties of β-lap, both in the laboratory and in the field.
Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Centro de Ciências da Saúde - Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
André de Lima
Ade L
Aires
Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Eulália Camelo Pessoa Azevedo
EC
Ximenes
Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Renata Alexandre Ramos
RA
Silva
Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Vanessa Xavier
VX
Barbosa
Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Alexandre José da Silva
AJ
Góes
Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães - Departamento de Biologia Celular Ultraestrutura, CPqAM/FIOCRUZ, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Christina Alves
CA
Peixoto
Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Valdênia Maria Oliveira
VM
Souza
Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Centro de Ciências da Saúde - Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Electronic address: jcmonica@globo.com.
Mônica Camelo Pessôa de Azevedo
MC
Albuquerque
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000494:pharmacology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009285:Naphthoquinones; D012556:Schistosomicides; D011223:Praziquantel; C014638:beta-lapachone
Schistosoma mansoni; Tegument; Ultrastructural analysis; β-Lapachone