LIPID CONTENT OF PLASMODIUM BERGHEI-INFECTED RAT RED BLOOD CELLS

The lipid extracts of rat red blood cells infected with the malarial parasite Plasmodium berghei contained increased amounts of total lipid when compared to extracts of cells from either normal or phenylhydrazine-treated rats. Total cholesterol increased approximately two-fold while the total lipid-P increased more than four-fold. The four-fold increase in phospholipid content of Plasmodium berghei parasitized over unparasitized blood cells largely represents a proportionate increase of all phospholipids studied rather than a selective increase of particular ones. However, the phospholipids of parasitized cells did contain a small but statistically significant higher percentage of phosphatidylethanolamine and also a significantly lower percentage of sphingomylins plus lysolecithins than unparasitized cell phospholipids. These minor changes could reflect the phospholipid composition of the membranes characteristic of this malarial parasite. © 1969.