Injection of free radical generators causes premature onset of tissue damage in malaria‐infected mice

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Abstract
Lymphoid and liver damage docs not usunlly occur in Plasmodium vinekei ‐infected mice until parasitaemias reach 70–80 per cent and the mice arc showing signs of illness. We rcport here that these chinges cann be induced in mice of healthy appearance and lower parasitaemia by injccting divicine or tertiary‐butyl hydroperoxide, two generators of free oxygen radicals. The same or larrger doses of these radical generators did nol induce this tissue damage in normal mice. Phagocytic leukocytes are activated in P. vinckie‐infected mice, and secretion by these cells of toxic oxyen metabolites has ben suggested to be part of this process. Additive effects of these free redicals and those generated from diviene and t‐butyl hydroperoxide could account for the increased susceptibility of parasitized mice to tissue damage by these agents.