Relation between haemoglobin degradation and maturity of the red blood cell infected by P. berghei

The action on haemoglobin of P. berghei growing in mature red cells, P. berghei growing in reticulocytes and P. berghei R.C. (which grows almost exclusively in reticulocytes) was compared. P. berghei growing in reticulocytes had a much higher level of proteolytic activity on haemoglobin than that of P. berghei growing in mature red cells. The amount of residual hematin was considerably reduced. In P. berghei R.C. and P. berghei growing in reticulocytes, the pigment seems to be exocyted as it is forming. The mechanism of haemoglobin degradation seemed therefore to be linked to the nature of the host red cell.