The effects of hemocytes on normal and degenerated oocysts of P.yoelii in mosquitoes and on melanization of oocysts / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Anopheles Stephensi,infected with Plasmodium yoelii.was fed on 10% sucrose solution containing 1%.difluoromethylornothine(DFMO)to induce the degeneration of its oocysts.On the 11th day after infection,the effects of hemocytes on the normal and degenerated oocysts were observed wtih transmission electron microscopy.In the control group.no hemacytes could be found around the normally-developed oocysts except those degenerated ones.In the DFMO group,all the oocysts underwent degeneration in various degrees and some of them were melanized.All the oocysts were attached by one or more hemocytes which belonged to the category of granulo-cytes morphologically.There were many granules with microtubular construction in the cytoplasm of the hemocytes and in the spaces between a hemocyte and an oocyst.The findings indicate that the degeneration of oocysts can exert a taxic effect on hemocytes and the latter may release the granules and possibly other substances to result in the encapsulation and melanization of the oocysts.