Schistosoma mansoni: use of a fluorescent indicator to detect nitric oxide and related species in living parasites

Exp Parasitol. 2006 Jun;113(2):130-3. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2005.12.013. Epub 2006 Feb 3.

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized enzymatically by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Several groups have previously presented evidence for NOS activity and immunoreactivity in several parasitic platyhelminths, including schistosomes. Here, we use 4,5-diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate (DAF-2 DA), a fluorescent indicator of NO, to detect NO in living schistosomes. In adult worms, DAF-2 fluorescence is found selectively in epithelial-like cells. Fluorescence increases when worms are incubated in L-arginine, the precursor of NO synthesis, and decreases dramatically in the presence of the NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, indicating that predicted NO release may be NOS-dependent, and that enzymatic NO signaling pathways may play an important role in schistosome physiology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fluorescein
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / metabolism
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / pharmacology
  • Nitric Oxide / analysis*
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Schistosoma mansoni / chemistry*
  • Schistosoma mansoni / metabolism

Substances

  • 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Arginine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Fluorescein
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester