Figure 6. The effect of L-DOPA on the induction of apoptosis in P. berghei ookinetes in vitro.

A: Ookinetes were incubated in supplemented RPMI containing different concentration of L-DOPA for 1 h (bars with small dots), 2 h (bars with strips) and 4 h (bars with large dots) and the proportion containing condensed nuclear chromatin was calculated. B: Ookinetes were incubated with L-DOPA for 4 h and those with compromised membranes (dead ookinetes) were identified by staining with erythrosin B (grey bars), while ookinetes showing chromatin condensation were identified with acridine orange (white bars). Bars are a mean of 3 experiments (n = 3) with at least 50 ookinetes examined in each experiment. Error bars represent SEM.