Enhanced gametocyte formation in young erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

Two gametocyte-forming clones, HB-3 and 3D7, were used. Concentrates of late stage parasites were mixed with bloods containing different proportions of young erythrocytes, and the parasitemia and proportion of gametocytes determined after 2, 3 or 4 days of culture. Significantly more gametocytes were formed in light cells than in heavy cells separated from the same normal blood samples. Up to seven times more gametocytes were formed in reticulocyte-rich bloods from patients with sickle cell anemia than in normal control blood.