Full Length Research Paper

Comparative osmotic fragility of three erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) of male participants administered with five antimalarial drugs

P. C. Chikezie¹, A. A. Uwakwe² and C.C. Monago²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: p_chikezie@yahoo.com. Tel: +23408038935327.

Accepted 10 September, 2009

   Abstract

In vivo study was carried out to ascertain the mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) index and corresponding stability of three erythrocyte genotypes (HbAA, HbAS and HbSS) before (control; t = 0 h) and after (tests; that is, at t = 3, 6 and 18 h) five (5) antimalarial drugs (Fansidar^TM, Halfan^TM, Quinine, Coartem^TM, and Chloroquine phosphate) were administered to male participants. Clinically confirmed healthy non-malarious and malarious male participants enrolled for this study. Erythrocytes obtained from these individuals were suspended in two separate sets of Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations in the following order: 0.9, 0.7, 0.6, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2 g / 100 ml. Spectrophotometric method was used to determine the level of erythrocyte osmotic fragility. The mean (+/-S.D) MCF values of the three genotypes were in the order: HbAA<HbAS<HbSS irrespective of the malarial status of participants. However, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the MCF values of HbAA and HbAS erythrocytes. Comparatively, parasitized erythrocytes exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) increased MCF values. The five antimalarial drugs were agents of erythrocyte destabilization in both categories of participants. However, the overall capacities of the drugs to perturb erythrocyte stability diminished as the experimental time progressed.

Key words: Antimalarials, erythrocytes, mean corpuscular fragility, genotypes, osmotic fragility.