Antimalarial properties of imipramine and amitriptyline

Dietary riboflavin deficiency is known to diminish malarial parasitemia. In this study, we determined whether imipramine and amitriptyline, drugs which inhibit riboflavin metabolism, have antimalarial efficacy. In addition, we evaluated whether these drugs, like other antimalarial agents, increase the hemolytic response to ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP). The growth of Plasmodium falciparum (FCR3) in the absence and presence of these drugs (10 to 75 microM) was measured by determining (3H)hypoxanthine uptake by intra-erythrocytic parasites for 48 h in RPMI 1640 medium. The uptake of (3H)hypoxanthine was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by both imipramine and amitriptyline. The IC50 values of imipramine and amitriptyline at 48 h were 56 and 45 microM, respectively. Both drugs enhanced hemolysis induced by FP (10 or 20 microM). No hemolysis by these drugs was detected in the absence of FP. It is concluded that the tricyclic antidepressants, imipramine and amitriptyline, possess substantial antimalarial properties.     

Nutritional Requirements of Plasmodium falciparum in Culture. II. Effects of Antimetabolites in a Semi Defined Medium1

A semi-defined minimal medium, in which pantothenic acid is the only vitamin, was used to culture Plasmodium falciparum for the analysis of antimetabolite drugs. Analogs of riboflavin, nicotinamide, pyridoxine, and thiamin inhibited the growth of this parasite; for each drug, effects were much more pronounced after 96 h of exposure compared to 48 h. The most potent drug examined was 8-methylamino-8-desmethyl riboflavin (IC₅₀ value approximately 1.0 times 10^-10 M at 96 h). Avidin, a protein which complexes and thus inactivates biotin, did not affect parasite viability. Other antimalarial drugs, including chloroquine and quinine derivatives and antibiotics, were equipotent in the minimal medium and in RPMI 1640. Four strains of P. falciparum showed only minor differences in sensitivity to these antimetabolites. The use of prolonged drug exposure times and a vitamin-depleted medium allowed the preliminary characterization of antimalarial antimetabolites in vitro.     

Interactions of tricyclic antidepressants with a synaptic ion channel

The interactions of four tricyclic antidepressants, including two dibenzazepines, imipramine and desipramine, and two dibenzocyclo-heptenes, amitriptyline and nortryptiline, were studied with the ion channel associated with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from the electric organs of $\text{Torpedo ocellata}$. These drugs inhibited the binding of tritiated perhydrohistrionicotoxin and phencyclidine to sites on the ion channel. All four compounds interacted with the ion channel with approximately equal affinities, inhibition constants for the two sites ranging from 1.1 to 3.4 μM in the absence and from 0.16 to 0.75 μM in the presence of 1 μM acetylcholine. The affinities of the secondary amines were increased by acetylcholine to a greater degree than were those of the tertiary amine compounds.     

Demonstration of specific high affinity binding sites for [3H] imipramine in human brain

High affinity binding sites (Kd = 1.7 nM) for [³H] imipramine have been characterized in membranes prepared from human brain. The binding of [³H] imipramine was found to be saturable, reversible, and inhibited by pharmacologically active tricyclic antidepressants. Other psychoactive compounds as well as most neurotransmitter substances were ineffective in inhibiting [³H] imipramine binding at concentrations up to 10 μM. The hypothalamus was found to contain a relatively high density of these binding sites and is enriched approximately 4-fold when compared to cerebral and cerebellar cortex. A very good correlation (r = 0.97) p < 0.001 was found between the abilities of a series of clinically active tricyclic antidepressants in displacing specifically bound [³H] imipramine from human brain and platelet membranes, suggesting that the binding sites from these two tissues are very similar.     

High-affinity uptake of [3H]serotonin in cultured neurones of the cockroach Periplaneta americana

Cultured central neurons from the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, have been used to investigate the uptake of [³H]serotonin. The neurones accumulate [³H]serotonin from the extracellular medium by both a high-and a low-affinity system. The activity of the high-affinity mechanism is decreased by low temperature and metabolic poisons, and is dependent on sodium and chloride ions. Both depolarising levels of external potassium ions and veratridine decrease the high-affinity uptake system, suggesting it is influenced by the transmembrane potential. The pyrethroid insecticides, deltamethrin and permethrin, enhance the inhibitory effect of veratridine. Pyrethroid enhancement is completely blocked by tetrodotoxin, and neither pyrethroid affects the uptake system in the absence of veratridine. Avermectin B_1A is a powerful inhibitor of the high-affinity uptake system, and its effect is blocked by picrotoxin. High-affinity uptake of [³H]serotonin is inhibited by imipramine and amitriptyline; desipramine has no significant effect on this uptake. The activity of the high-affinity system is also reduced by 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin, α-methyl-serotonin, and 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine. Dopamine, noradrenaline, octopamine, and the formamidine insecticides, chlordimeform and demethylchlordimerform, are moderate inhibitors of the high-affinity uptake system. The formamidine effect is not blocked by tetrodotoxin or picrotoxin.     

Does high affinity [3H] imipramine binding label serotonin reuptake sites in brain and platelet?

Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of high affinity binding sites for [³H] imipramine in membrane preparations derived from rat brain, human platelet, and human brain. Although initial reports concluded that there was no relationship between these binding sites and the reuptake sites for biogenic amines, subsequent studies in our laboratory suggested a close relationship between the high affinity imipramine binding site and the serotonin uptake or transport site (cf. ref. 9). To further establish whether these binding sites are associated with either platelet or neuronal uptake of serotonin, the relative potencies of a series of tricyclic antidepressants in inhibiting [³H] imipramine binding and serotonin uptake were determined under identical assay conditions. A close correlation between inhibition of serotonin uptake and [³H] imipramine binding was observed (r = 0.99, p < 0.001). In addition, electrolytic lesions of the midbrain raphe produced a decrease in [³H] imipramine binding in hypothalamic synaptosomes that paralleled the decrease in [³H] serotonin uptake. Finally incubation of synaptosomal membranes with 2,8-dinitroimipramine, an irreversible inhibitor of [³H] imipramine binding, produced a dose-dependent decrease in serotonin uptake, without altering the uptake of nonrepinephrine or dopamine. Taken together our results strongly suggest that high affinity binding of [³]] imipramine selectively labels serotonin uptake sites in brain and platelet.     

Relative cytotoxicity of psychotropic drugs in cultured rat hepatocytes

The relative cytotoxic effects of ten psychotropic drugs were assessed in rat hepatocyte monolayer cultures. Clear concentration-related toxicity was seen in the narrow range of 10^–5M to S × 10^–5M. The four cytotoxicity endpoints chosen were: release of the cytosolic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, and impairment of biosynthesis and secretion of proteins, bile acids and glycerolipids. LDH leakage and inhibition of protein secretion into the culture medium proved to be the parameters which allowed the best differentiation between the test compounds. The inhibition of glycerolipid secretion was the most sensitive test in relation to concentration and time of exposure. Based on the effects of these endpoints, the following ranking of relative in vitro toxicity, using equimolar drug concentrations, could be established: clomipramine > imipramine = thioridazine > chlorpromazine > amitriptyline = fluperlapine > haloperidol > promazine > clozapine sulpiride. This ranking order of in vitro cytotoxicity correlated well with the potential of the drugs to impair liver function in man. Only clozapine had to be classified as a false negative. There was, however, no correlation between the cytotoxicity and the intracellular accumulation of the test drugs. Furthermore, the comparison of the data obtained with psychotropics with the data from five other amphiphilic cationic drugs was consistent with the widely accepted concept of a direct toxic interaction of the drugs with cytomembranes. This nonspecific toxicity of the membrane-active drugs was further corroborated by a positive correlation between their potential to induce LDH leakage in hepatocytes and their ability to induce hemolysis in red cells. In conclusion, the results obtained in our study strongly suggest that it is possible to assess the relative cytotoxicity of psychotropic drugs in rat hepatocyte cultures. It is proposed that this in vitro system provides a useful tool to evaluate new drugs at an early stage of their development, and to identify the most promising candidates within a class of structurally related compounds. In addition, it allows information to be obtained on possible mechanisms of cytotoxicity.Abbreviations AIB aminoisobutyric acid - AMT amitriptyline - BSA bovine serum albumin - CLP clomipramine - CLZ clozapine - CPZ chlorpromazine - FLU fluperlapine - HAL haloperidol - HC₅₀ dose causing 50% hemolysis - IMP imipramine - LDH lactate dehydrogenase - PZ promazine - SUL sulpiride - TCA trichloroacetic acid - TRZ thioridazine     

2-Nitroimipramine: A selective irreversible inhibitor of [3H] serotonin uptake and [3H] imipramine binding in platelets

The effect(s) of a new imipramine analogue, 2-nitroimipramine, on high affinity [³H] imipramine binding and [³H] serotonin uptake in human platelets were studied. 2-Nitroimipramine was found not only to be a very potent inhibitor of [³H] imipramine binding and [³H] serotonin uptake but was found to irreversibly inhibit binding and uptake simultaneously. This finding supports previous observations from our laboratory and others that high affinity imipramine binding labels serotonin uptake or transport sites. 2-Nitroimipramine should prove an important tool for subsequent studies of the molecular mechanism(s) involved in the transport of serotonin and the binding of imipramine to platelet and brain membranes.     

Noradrenaline, a Transmitter Candidate in the Retina

The occurrence, metabolism, uptake, and release of noradrenaline were studied in the bovine retina with the following results. (1) Small amounts of noradrenaline occur in the retina and are restricted to the area corresponding to the inner nuclear and plexiform layers. (2) Retinal tissue can metabolise [¹⁴C]dopamine to form quantities of [¹⁴C]noradrenaline. (3) [¹⁴C]Noradrenaline can also be partly metabolised to form [¹⁴C]normetanephrine. (4) When bovine retinas were incubated with 5 × 10^-7 M-[³H]noradrenaline for 20 min and processed for autoradiography, most of the label was associated with apparent nerve processes in the inner plexiform layer. Biochemical analysis showed that more than 95% of the label was noradrenaline. (5) [¹⁴C]Noradrenaline uptake saturated with increasing noradrenaline concentrations and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. This uptake could be accounted for by two processes, a high-affinity system with a K_m1 of 5 × 10^-8 M and a V_max1 of 0.193 pmol/mg/10 min and a low-affinity system with a K_m2 of 6.3 × 10^-5 M and a V_max2 of 0.109 nmol/mg/10 min. (6) Noradrenaline uptake was strongly dependent on temperature and sodium, less dependent on potassium, and independent of calcium and magnesium ions. (7) Centrally acting drugs, such as desipramine, imipramine, desmethylimipramine, and amitriptyline, inhibited noradrenaline uptake by more than 55% at the concentration of 5 × 10^-5 M. These drugs at the same concentration diminished dopamine uptake by less than 30%. (8) Noradrenaline uptake is stereospecific, the (-) isomer having a greater affinity for the uptake sites than the (+) isomer. (9) [¹⁴C]Noradrenaline in the retina could be released by increasing the external potassium concentration. This release was calcium-dependent and was blocked by 20 mM-cobalt chloride. The present studies could be interpreted as supporting the idea that noradrenaline acts as a transmitter in the retina.     

Assessment of rat brain alpha1-adrenoceptor binding and activation of inositol phospholipid turnover following chronic imipramine treatment

Chronic (21 days) treatment of rats with imipramine (10 mg/kg) did not change the density or affinity of alpha₁-adrenoceptors as measured by the specific binding of [³H]prazosin in rat cortical membranes, but produced the expected significant decrease in the density of beta-adrenoceptors labeled by [¹²⁵I]iodocyanopindolol. The functional status of brain alpha₁-adrenoceptors was also assessed by measuring the noradrenaline (NA)-induced accumulation of [³H]inositol 1-phosphate (IP₁) in brain slices from these animals. No apparent change was observed in the concentration-response relationship between NA and [³H]IP₁ accumulation in rat cerebral cortex after chronic treatment with imipramine. At concentrations higher than 1 M in vitro, imipramine and its metabolite, desipramine, produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the [³H]IP₁ accumulation elicited by NA. This inhibitory effect is likely mediated by direct blockade of alpha₁-adrenoceptors by these drugs. As the endogenous drug concentration would not reach 1 M in our preparation, the lack of changes in alpha₁-adrenoceptor response following chronic imipramine treatment are not likely attributable to residual imipramine or desipramine retained in the tissues. In conclusion, the above findings do not support previous suggestions that brain alpha₁-adrenoceptors are upregulated following chronic imipramine administration.     

Nutritional Requirements of Plasmodium falciparum in Culture. III. Further Observations on Essential Nutrients and Antimetabolites1

In a semi-defined minimal medium for cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum, ribose, mannose, fructose, galactose, and maltose could not replace glucose. Hypoxanthine was the preferred purine source for the parasite over adenine, guanine, inosine, adenosine and guanosine although all supported growth equally. Inhibitors of nucleoside uptake had low potency in killing the parasites but depressed incorporation of [³H]adenosine more than [³H]hypoxanthine. Glutamate could not be replaced by 5-oxoproline, indicating that the γ-glutamyl transferase pathway for amino acid uptake is probably not found in this organism. Adenine, nicotinamide, and orotic acid could not supplement glutamine-deficient medium. The pyridoxine antagonists isoniazid and 4-deoxypyridoxine were reversed by amino acid supplementation, suggesting that transaminases may be targets of these drugs. Orotic acid, but not glutathione or its amino acid components, partially reversed the effects of 8-methylamino-8-desmethyl riboflavin. Thus, the flavin enzyme, dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase, but not glutathione reductase, appears to be a target of this riboflavin antagonist. Five biotin antagonists had no significant activity. The choline antagonist 2-(tert-butylamino)ethanol and thiamin uptake inhibitors had nonspecific inhibitory effects, which were not reversed by the respective target vitamin. Buthionine sulfoximine and methionine sulfoximine, inhibitors of glutathione synthesis, had significant oxygen-dependent toxicity. Six sulfonamides showed marked variation in potency and efficacy. Sulfathiazole and sulfadoxine were reversed differentially by p-aminobenzoic acid, folic acid, and folinic acid. Folinic acid was more effective than folic acid at reversing the toxicity of the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors aminopterin and pyrimethamine; p-aminobenzoic acid had no effect.     

High affinity transport of choline into synaptosomes of rat brain

—The accumulation of [³H]choline into synaptosome-enriched homogenates of rat corpus striatum, cerebral cortex and cerebellum was studied at [³H]choline concentrations varying from 0.5 to 100 μm . The accumulation of [³H]choline in these brain regions was saturable. Kinetic analysis of the accumulation of the radiolabel was performed by double-reciprocal plots and by least squares iterative fitting of a substrate-velocity curve to the data. With both of these techniques, the data were best satisfied by two transport components, a high affinity uptake system with K_m. values of 1.4 μM (corpus striatum), and 3.1 μM (ceμ(cerebral cortex) and a low affinity uptake system with respective K_m. values of 93 and 33 μM for these two brain regions. In the cerebellum choline was accumulated only by the low affinity system. When striatal homogenates were fractionated further into synaptosomes and mitochondria and incubated with varying concentrations of [³H]choline, the high affinity component of choline uptake was localized to the synaptosomal fraction. The high affinity uptake system required sodium, was sensitive to various metabolic inhibitors and was associated with considerable formation of [³H]acetylcholine. The low affinity uptake system was much less dependent on sodium, and was not associated with a marked degree of [³H]acetylcholine formation. Hemicholinium-3 and acetylcholine were potent inhibitors of the high affinity uptake system. A variety of evidence suggests that the high affinity transport represents a selective accumulation of choline by cholinergic neurons, while the low affinity uptake system has some less specific function.     

Ferriprotoporphyrin IX binding substances and the mode of action of chloroquine against malaria

Bovine serum albumin and preparations of cell sap from malaria parasites and normal erythrocytes were tested for ability to protect cellular membranes against the toxicity of ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) and a chloroquine-FP complex. Suspensions of $\text{Plasmodium berghei}$ (approximately 7 × 10⁶ parasites per ml, isolated from saponin-lysed, infected erythrocytes) were used as a test system. Toxicity was monitored by measuring changes in turbidity of these suspensions at 700 nm. Parasite cell sap (0.56 mg protein per ml) and albumin (1 mg per ml) completely prevented the toxicity of 40 μM FP. Erythrocyte cell sap (8.6 mg of hemoglobin per ml) provided only partial protection from 40 μM FP. Neither the cell sap preparations nor albumin eliminated the toxicity of a chloroquine-FP complex formed from 20 μM chloroquine and 40 μM FP. These observations suggest that the cell sap preparations contain FP binding substances and that the mode of action of chloroquine may be to shunt FP away from a nontoxic complex with these substances and into a toxic chloroquine-FP complex.     

Adenovirus fiber protein (FP) functions as a mitogen and an adjuvant

Fiber protein (FP) from adenovirus serotype 12 and 2 was shown to be mitogenic for lymphocytes of normal BALB/c mice. Maximum increase in [³H]thymidine incorporation was observed with 50–75 μg/ml of adenovirus 12 FP after 48 hr of culture. Also, FP induced blast cell transformation of mouse lymphocytes. The mitogenic activity was abolished with corresponding antiserum. Enriched T cells were not activated by FP, while B cells from athymic nude mice were stimulated to levels of approximately those of whole spleen cells. The stimulatory activity of FP was amplified by the presence of an adherent cell population (probably macrophages). Furthermore, FP served as an adjuvant in vivo, increasing IgM synethesis to SRBCs in mice immunized with FP along with SRBC. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Role of glucose in interleukin-1β production by lipopolysaccharide-activated human monocytes

When monocytes are activated with endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), they make and release several mediators, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β). This study was undertaken to investigate the role of glucose in IL-1β production by these cells. IL-1β was produced in a dose-dependent manner to glucose concentration in the culture medium. The uptake of (³H)2-deoxyglucose in monocytes was stimulated by LPS 1,554% after 10 minutes, 6,095% after 2 hours, then gradually declined after 4 hours of incubation. The inhibition of the uptake of (³H)2-deoxyglucose by either 10 μM cytochaiasin B or phloretin, added at the time of monocyte activation, was accompanied by significant reduction in ATP/ADP ratio and the inhibition of the production of IL-1β by activated monocytes. The synthesis of total protein did not change in monocytes activated in the absence of glucose in the culture medium, nor in the presence of either 10 μM cytochalasin B or phloretin. The export of IL-1β from LPS-activated monocytes was not inhibited by either 10 μM cytochalasin B or phloretin, nor in the absence of glucose in the culture medium. These data suggest that (1) glucose is required for LPS-induced IL-1β production by monocytes; (2) glucose is the major source of ATP for IL-1β production; (3) glucose transporter (GLUT 1) does not control the export of IL-1β. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ca2+ Release from Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate-Sensitive Ca2+ Store by Antidepressant Drugs in Cultured Neurons of Rat Frontal Cortex

Abstract: The ability of antidepressant drugs (ADs) to increase the concentration of intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) was examined in primary cultured neurons from rat frontal cortices using the Ca²⁺-sensitive fluorescent indicator fura-2. Amitriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, and mianserin elicited transient increases in [Ca²⁺]_i in a concentration-dependent manner (100 μM to 1 mM). These four AD-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increases were not altered by the absence of external Ca²⁺ or by the presence of La³⁺ (30 μM), suggesting that these ADs provoked intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization rather than Ca²⁺ influx. All four ADs increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) contents by 20–60% in the cultured cells. The potency of the IP₃ production by these ADs closely correlated with the AD-induced [Ca²⁺]_i responses. Pretreatment with neomycin, an inhibitor of IP₃ generation, significantly inhibited amitriptyline- and imipramine-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increases. In addition, by initially perfusing with bradykinin (10 μM) or acetylcholine (10 μM), which can stimulate the IP₃ generation and mobilize the intracellular Ca²⁺, the amitriptyline responses were decreased by 76% and 69%, respectively. The amitriptyline-induced [Ca²⁺]_i increases were unaffected by treatment with pertussis toxin. We conclude that high concentrations of amitriptyline and three other ADs mobilize Ca²⁺ from IP₃-sensitive Ca²⁺ stores and that the responses are pertussis toxin-insensitive. However, it seems unlikely that the effects requiring high concentrations of ADs are related to the therapeutic action.     

Stimulatory effect of somatostatin on norepinephrine release from rat brain cortex slices

The effect of somatostatin (SRIF) on norepinephrine (NE) release from the brain tissue was determined on the superfused rat cerebral cortex slices preloaded with ³HNE. SRIF (0.38 μM–1.53 μM) was found to stimulate dose-dependently tritium (³H) overflow evoked electrically by 30%—116% although SRIF did not affect on the spontaneous ³H overflow. SRIF at the concentrations which exhibited the stimulatory effect inhibited scarecely the uptake of ³HNE by cortex slices, while the reference drug, cocaine (50 μM, 10 μM) markedly depressed the uptake. The stimulatory effect of SRIF was not reduced by phentolamine (3.14 μM), α-adrenoceptor blocker, which increased the evoked ³H overflow from the slices itself. These results suggest that SRIF does not produce its stimulatory effect by inhibiting the NE reuptake mechanisms or by interacting with the presynaptic α-adrenoceptors. Elevating of Ca²⁺ concentrations from 0.75 mM to 2.25 mM in the superfusion fluid reduced the stimulatory effect of SRIF. It is possible that SRIF stimulates NE release by facilitating the availability of Ca²⁺ for the release mechanisms.     

Taurine uptake in synaptosomal fractions of rat cerebral cortex.

Abstract— [³⁵S]Taurine was found to be accumulated in synaptosomal fractions of rat cerebral cortex. Kinetic analysis in the range of 1–800 μm -[³⁵S]taurine revealed at least two different uptake processes. A high affinity uptake with a K_m of 20 μM and a low affinity uptake with a K_m of about 450 μM. The high affinity component was dependent on temperature and energy, and virtually abolished in the absence of sodium. Examination of the influence of structural analogues and putative transmitter substances indicates that the high affinity uptake of taurine into synaptosomal fractions of rat cerebral cortex is unique and highly specific. No specific actions of several centrally acting drugs on taurine uptake could be observed.     

Inhibition of fast axonal transport in bullfrog nerves by dibenzazepine and dibenzocycloheptadiene calmodulin inhibitors

The effects of the calmodulin inhibitors amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, and clomipramine on fast axonal transport, oxidative metabolism, and density of axonal microtubules were measured in bullfrog spinal nerves in vitro. The four drugs tested inhibited the fast orthograde transport of [3H]leucine-labelled proteins and the fast retrograde transport of acetylcholinesterase at a concentration of 0.2 mM. Amitriptyline, desipramine, and imipramine were equipotent inhibitors of transport, and clomipramine was a more potent inhibitor than imipramine. The adenosine triphosphate content of the nerves was reduced by at most 19% by the compounds under study; such a reduction cannot account for the inhibition of fast axonal transport. Desipramine and imipramine had no significant effect on the density of microtubules in unmyelinated axons, whereas amitriptyline only reduced it by 18%; the inhibition of axonal transport by these three drugs can therefore not be explained by microtubule disruption. Clomipramine reduced microtubular density by 40%, and this effect may have contributed to the inhibition of fast axonal transport. The inhibition of fast axonal transport by desipramine, imipramine, and amitriptyline may be related to the inhibition of calmodulin function by these drugs. The similar potency of these three drugs as inhibitors of fast axonal transport goes in parallel with their known similar potency as calmodulin antagonists.     

Cycloheximide inhibitation on hypoxanthine transport in cultured cells

Cycloheximide preincubation inhibits hypoxanthine uptake into the acid-soluble fractions of cultured rat hepatoma cells (MH₁C₁) and human skin epithelial cells (NCTC 2544, HE cells) in a time- and dose-dependent manner 50% inhibition is seen after 4 h preincubation with 10^?4 M cycloheximide of MH₁C₁ cells and after 2.5 h of HE cells. Adenine uptake is much less affected, after 10 h preincubation with 10^?4 M cycloheximide it was reduced to 83% and 67% of controls in MH₁C₁ cells and HE cells respectively. Cycloheximide inhibits hypoxanthine uptake in a dose-dependent manner above 10^?7 M, with 50% inhibition in MH₁C₁ cells at 4 · 10^?7 M after 12 h preincubation and at 10^-6 M in HE cells after 6 h preincubation. Puromycin mimics the action of cycloheximide. The inhibition of hypoxanthine uptke is not caused by reduction of the activity of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase in the two cell lines. 10^?4 M cycloheximide preincubation for 10 h does not significantly reduce the uptake of the two non-metabolizable amino acids α-aminoisobutyric acid or 1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid (cycloleucine). It is suggested that cycloheximide inhibits the synthesis of a rapidly turning over the protein involved in hypoxanthine transport.