ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE‐BOUND ENZYMES IN MASTOMYS NATALENSIS DURING PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTION

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Abstract
Summary: The pattern of activity of certain membrane‐associated enzymes was followed in the erythrocytes of Plasmodium berghei‐infected Mastomys natalensis. Parasitized erythrocytes were separated from non‐parasitized populations by percoll‐density gradient centrifugation. The activity of adenylate cyclase was markedly increased while those of ATPase, acid phosphatase, β‐glucuronidase and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase were considerably decreased in the membrane preparations of parasitized erythrocytes as compared to normal erythrocytes. There was a decrease in the activity of ATPase and an increase of adenylate cyclase in the membrane preparations of non‐parasitized erythrocytes. However, other enzymes did not alter to a significant extent in non‐parasitized erythrocytes. Chloroquine (in vitro) stimulated adenylate cyclase, Na+ K+‐ATPase and Ca++Mg++‐ATPase while acetylcholinesterase was significantly inhibited.