Pathologic physiology and chemotherapy of Plasmodium berghei: IV. Influence of chloroquine on oxygen uptake of red blood cells infected with sensitive or resistant strains

Abstract

The oxygen uptake of erythrocytes was measured in vitro in a chamber with an oxygen electrode. Non-malarial blood showed an increase in oxygen uptake following the addition of chloroquine at 10 −8, 10 −7, or 10 −5 M. Blood from mice infected with Plasmodium berghei which can be controlled by in vivo administration of chloroquine responded to in vitro addition of chloroquine, by a fall in oxygen uptake. Blood from mice infected with Plasmodium berghei known to be resistant to chloroquine behaved differently. The in vitro addition of chloroquine did not depress oxygen uptake of the erythrocytes but caused an increase.