Effect of Plasmodium yoelli nigeriensis infection and chloroquine on the hepatic mixed function oxidase system of mice

Abstract

Plasmodium yoelli nigeriensis infection in albino mice significantly altered the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system. Cytochrome P-450 (the terminal monooxygenase) and other monooxygenases, viz. aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine- N-demethylase and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase were significantly lowered while microsomal heme showed 4-fold increase at 80% parasitaemia. Noticeable impairment in the other components like NADH:cytochrome b 5 reductase, NADPH:cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome b 5 and glucose-6-phosphatase was also observed. Oral treatment of normal and P. y. nigeriensis infected mice with chloroquine (64 mg per kg body weight for 4 days) caused lowering of mixed function oxidase activitied which however showed a recovering trend, a week after cessation of treatment.