Effect of acetylcholine, L-glutamine and diethyl carbamazine citrate on the release of microfilariae from Setaria digitata.

Release of microfilariae from adult filarial parasite S. digitata was reversibly arrested in presence of 2 mM L-glutamine. Diethylcarbamazine also showed a similar effect, but at a lower concentration (0.26 mM). Both compounds inhibited activities of protease and leucine amino peptidase enzymes. The only difference being, different concentrations of the two materials were required for comparable effects. Levels of histamine and acetylcholine in parasite were lowered during incubation under in vitro conditions. Direct effect of L-glutamine on the release of mf was also confirmed.