Schistosoma mansoni: an in vivo study of drug-induced autophagy in the gastrodermis.

The effects of Astiban, Lucanthone, Hycanthone and Niridazole on autophagic activities in the gastrodermis of Schistosoma mansoni were determined in vivo, using different dosage levels and dosage times. With Astiban, high levels of autophagy were observed in the gastrodermis 2 hours after an injection of the drug into the mouse, and this response had declined by 20 hours, marking a recovery by the parasite from the drug. Hycanthone and Lucanthone produced an autophagic response several days after the onset of treatment, and no recovery was observed in the morphology of the gastrodermis after the drug was discontinued. The effects of Niridazole on the gastrodermis were to produce the most dramatic ultrastructural changes after high doses and over several days of treatment. With all the drugs examined, gastrodermal autophagy was characterized by the formation of vacuoles containing cell components, lipid droplets and sometimes hydrolytic enzyme reaction product. The autophagic vacuoles appeared to be formed by the sequestration of cytoplasmic material by the basal membrane infoldings, and the transfer of enzymes into the vacuole from within the limiting membrane. The residues from intracellular digestion appeared to be emptied into the caecal lumen.