Protection of Fasciola hepatica against flukicidal action of the amine of diamphenethide in vitro.

A variety of compounds structurally related to serotonin and dopamine were tested for their ability to protect adult liver flukes against the flukicidal effect in vitro of an active metabolite of diamphenethide (diamphenethide-amine). The most effective was dopamine. The protective effect of dopamine was also assessed by analysis of the metabolite and adenine nucleotide levels and excretory products of flukes exposed to diamphenethide-amine in vitro. Most notably, dopamine appeared to depress considerably the large elevation of internal malate which is a characteristic effect of diamphenethide-amine on liver flukes.