Metronidazole (flagyl) and misonidazole (Ro-07-0582): reduction by facultative anaerobes and cytotoxic action on hypoxic bacteria and mammalian cells in vivo

The toxic actions of the "nitro" radiosensitizers, metronidazole and misonidazole on the bacteria E. coli B/r and Serratia marcescens have been investigated under anareobic and aerobic conditions. The rates of reduction of the drugs by suspensions of these bacteria as well as by suspension...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of cancer. Supplement 1978-06, Vol.3, p.132-135
Main Authors: Basag, S H, Dunlop, J R, Searle, A J, Willson, R L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anaerobiosis
Escherichia coli - drug effects
Escherichia coli - metabolism
Metronidazole - metabolism
Metronidazole - pharmacology
Nitroimidazoles - metabolism
Nitroimidazoles - pharmacology
Oxygen
Serratia marcescens - drug effects
Serratia marcescens - metabolism
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Summary:The toxic actions of the "nitro" radiosensitizers, metronidazole and misonidazole on the bacteria E. coli B/r and Serratia marcescens have been investigated under anareobic and aerobic conditions. The rates of reduction of the drugs by suspensions of these bacteria as well as by suspensions microorganisms from the rat caecum have been measured. Both drugs were reduced or were toxic only under anaerobic conditions. In all instances misonidazole was reduced more rapidly than metronidazole but metronidazole was more toxic. It is suggested that these phenomena may model those occurring with hypoxic mammalian cells in vivo and that care should be taken before automatically extrapolating in vitro data to the in vivo situation.
ISSN:0306-9443