Studies of regulatory metabolism in Moniezia expansa

Abstract

Effects of cambendazole and mebendazole on the respiratory metabolism of the anterior portion of Moniezia expansa were investigated in vitro. Anaerobically and in the presence of glucose, both drugs inhibited glucose uptake and increased glycogen utilisation. They reduced succinate production, by inhibiting fumarate reductase and (in the case of cambendazole) phosphoenolypyruvate carboxykinase activities, and increased lactate production. The additional lactate formed was accumulated in the worms. The drugs diminished ATP synthesis and/or turnover of adenine nucleotides. Aerobically, the drugs exerted similar effects on glucose uptake, glycogen utilisation and adenine nucleotides but the formation of end products was unaffected. Hexokinase and phosphofructokinase activities were inhibited by the drugs in vitro, but were not inhibited in extracts of parasites preincubated with the drugs. Show more