[In vitro infestation of adult thamnomys hepatocytes with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites; schizogony and release of infecting merozoites]

Abstract

Hepatocytes isolated from an African rodent, Thamnomys gazellae, by perfusing the liver with a solution of collagenase were cultured in modified MEM medium, and infected in vitro by sporozoites of the 17 X strain of P. y. yoelii. 48 hrs. later, schizonts measuring 30 to 40 microns on average were observed in all cultures. Injection of culture supernatant, harvested on day 3, into Mice, was followed by a parasitaemia demonstrating that viable merozoites had been released by the schizonts.