An ion-sensitive microelectrode study on the effect of a high concentration of ivermectin on chloride balance in the somatic muscle bag cells of Ascaris suum.

Ivermectin has been shown to increase chloride conductances of invertebrate cells. On the muscle cells of the parasitic nematode Ascaris, ivermectin acts as both a GABA receptor antagonist and a chloride channel opener. In this study, ion-sensitive microelectrodes were used to investigate the effect of ivermectin on intracellular Cl- concentration of the somatic muscle bag cells of Ascaris suum. Incubation of muscle cells with ivermectin (10 microM in 1% dimethyl sulphoxide vehicle for 60 min) increased intracellular Cl- by 2.9 mM or 15% compared to controls (P < 0.01, n = 6).