Biomaterial Database

Fasciola hepatica: disruption of the vitelline cells in vitro by the sulphoxide metabolite of triclabendazole. 1996

A W Stitt, and I Fairweather

School of Biology and Biochemistry, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The effects of the active sulphoxide metabolite of the fasciolicide triclabendazole (Fasinex, Ciba-Geigy) on the vitelline cells of Fasciola hepatica were determined in vitro by transmission electron microscopy using both intact flukes and tissue-slice material. At a triclabendazole concentration of 15 micrograms/ml the vitelline cells of intact flukes showed ultrastructural changes only after prolonged incubation periods (12-24 h). The changes observed were a swelling of the granular endoplasmic reticulum (GER) cisternae with decreased ribosomal covering in the intermediate-type cells and condensation of chromatin and disappearance of the nucleolus in the nucleus of the stem cell. Similar changes were evident more quickly (by 6 h) in whole flukes treated at the higher concentration of 50 micrograms/ml. The shell globule clusters were loosely packed in the intermediate type-2 cells, and the number of intermediate type-1 cells declined with more prolonged incubation. Disruption of the nurse-cell cytoplasm was also observed from 12 h onwards. After only 6 h incubation of tissue-slice material at 50 micrograms/ml, intermediate type-1 cells were absent, shell globule clusters in mature cells were loosely packed and the nurse-cell cytoplasm was badly disrupted. By 12 h the vitelline cells were vacuolated and grossly abnormal. The results are discussed in relation to postulated actions of triclabendazole against the microtubule component of the cytoskeleton and against protein synthesis in the fluke.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D002466	Cell Nucleolus	Within most types of eukaryotic CELL NUCLEUS, a distinct region, not delimited by a membrane, in which some species of rRNA (RNA, RIBOSOMAL) are synthesized and assembled into ribonucleoprotein subunits of ribosomes. In the nucleolus rRNA is transcribed from a nucleolar organizer, i.e., a group of tandemly repeated chromosomal genes which encode rRNA and which are transcribed by RNA polymerase I. (Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology & Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Plasmosome,Cell Nucleoli,Nucleoli, Cell,Nucleolus, Cell,Plasmosomes
D004721	Endoplasmic Reticulum	A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D005210	Fasciola hepatica	A species of helminth commonly called the sheep liver fluke. It occurs in the biliary passages, liver, and gallbladder during various stages of development. Snails and aquatic vegetation are the intermediate hosts. Occasionally seen in man, it is most common in sheep and cattle.	Liver Fluke,Fasciola hepaticas,Fluke, Liver,Flukes, Liver,Liver Flukes,hepatica, Fasciola
D000077682	Triclabendazole	Benzimidazole antiplatyhelmintic agent that is used for the treatment of FASCIOLIASIS and PARAGONIMIASIS.	Egaten,6-chloro-5-(2,3-dichlorophenoxy)-2-methylthiobenzimidazole,Fasicare,Fasinex,Flukare,Tremacide
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000871	Anthelmintics	Agents that kill parasitic worms. They are used therapeutically in the treatment of HELMINTHIASIS in man and animal.	Anthelmintic,Antihelmintic,Vermifuge,Vermifuges,Antihelmintics
D001562	Benzimidazoles	Compounds with a BENZENE fused to IMIDAZOLES.
D013454	Sulfoxides	Organic compounds that have the general formula R-SO-R. They are obtained by oxidation of mercaptans (analogous to the ketones). (From Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 4th ed)