Molecular evidence for apoptosis in microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti induced by diethylcarbamazine

Parasitol Res. 2008 Aug;103(3):717-21. doi: 10.1007/s00436-008-1020-6. Epub 2008 May 23.

Abstract

Apoptosis, a programmed cell death, is characterized by chromatin condensation, numerous vacuoles, reduction in cell volume, and endonuclease cleavage DNA degradation detected in gel electrophoresis as nucleosomal ladder. Here we report that diethylcarbamazine induces DNA fragmentation in microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti revealed by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction and by in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling at the light and electron transmission level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • DNA Fragmentation
  • DNA, Helminth / metabolism
  • Diethylcarbamazine / pharmacology*
  • Filaricides / pharmacology*
  • In Situ Nick-End Labeling
  • Microfilariae / cytology
  • Microfilariae / drug effects*
  • Microfilariae / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Wuchereria bancrofti / cytology
  • Wuchereria bancrofti / drug effects*
  • Wuchereria bancrofti / ultrastructure

Substances

  • DNA, Helminth
  • Filaricides
  • Diethylcarbamazine