The effects of hormones on the gametocytogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

To examine possible effects of hormones on the gametocytogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro, insulin, progesterone, 17-beta-estradiol and testosterone were added in different concentrations to the culture medium. The medium containing RPMI was free of human serum but complemented with BMS (Basal-Medium-Supplement, Biochrom), a semidefined serum replacement. As controls, cultures were grown either with BMS supplemented RPMI without hormones, or with human serum complemented RPMI. Only addition of insulin increased the parasitemia. All tested steroid hormones added to the medium enhanced the number of gametocytes.