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In vivo Activity of L‐Azaserine Against Trypanosoma equiperdum *
Author(s) -
JAFFE JULIAN J.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1963.tb01702.x
Subject(s) - azaserine , purine metabolism , purine , biology , medicine , pharmacology , biochemistry , amino acid , enzyme , glutamine
SYNOPSIS. When the antibiotic L‐azaserine was injected intraperitoneally into female Ha/ICR albino mice infected with T. equiperdum , a marked but temporary inhibition of trypanosomal reproduction was observed and survival time of the hosts was more than doubled. The efficacy cf a given dose of azaserine was considerably reduced when its equivalent was divided equally over a 5‐day period. Azaserine was much more effective when injected intraperitoneally than when given by gastric intubation, even though measures were taken in the latter circumstance to reduce the rate of degradation of the drug by gastric juice and the liver. Some purine analogs were tested in combination with azaserine for ability to prolong the lives of mice infected with T. equiperdum ; 6‐mercaptopurine was the only one that significantly enhanced the efficacy of azaserine. Evidence is presented that azaserine inhibits trypanosomal reproduction directly rather than by a host‐mediated mechanism.