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Studies on erythrocytic methemoglobin reductase systems in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice
S Srivastava1, A S Alhomida, N J Siddiqi
1Department of Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Background:
The methemoglobin reductase system plays a vital role in maintaining the equilibrium between hemoglobin and methemoglobin in blood. Exposure of red blood cells to oxidative stress (pathological/physiological) causes an impairment in this equilibrium.
Objective:
To study the status of methemoglobin and the related reductase system during Plasmoidum yoelii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection in mice.
Method:
Mice were divided into two groups viz., normal mice and P. y. nigeriensis infected mice. Malaria infection was induced by intraperitoneal inoculation of 10(6) infected erythrocytes.
Results:
The present investigation revealed significant decrease in the activity of methemoglobin reductase, with concomitant rise in methemoglobin content during P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice erythrocytes. This was accompanied with a significant increase in reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid levels. Also the activities of the associated enzymes viz., lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase were found to increase with progressive rise in parasitemia.
Conclusion:
P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice results in impairment of methemoglobin reductase in the host.