Anti-echinococcal effect of verapamil involving the regulation of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II response

摘要

The effect of verapamil (Vepm) against Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces (PSC) in vitro. aE. granulosus PSC were exposed to Vepm at a concentration of 0.5–100 μg/ml, albendazole sulfoxide (ABZ-SO) at a concentration of 40 or 20 μg/ml, or 0.1% dimethylsulfoxide (the vehicle group) for 8 days. b The morphological changes and ultrastructural alterations in PSC exposed to various drugs for 4 days were detected by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). a, d, g Typical morphology and structural integrity of PSC from the vehicle group. b, e, h Mild morphological and structural alterations in the ABZ-SO (20 μg/ml) group. c, f, j Substantial morphological and ultrastructural destruction of PSC exposed to Vepm (20 μg/ml), including disappearance of calcareous corpuscles and hooks, shedding of the tegument and the presence of numerous blebs. a–c Light microscopy without any staining (×200 magnification); d–f light microscopy with trypan blue staining (×200 magnification); g–i SEM (×600 magnification). Red arrowhead indicates an intact calcareous corpuscle