Action of Acridines on Agents of the Psittacosis-Lymphogranuloma Group.*

Abstract

Acriflavine; 3-nitro-6,7-dimethoxy-9-(2-phenyl -4-diethylaminobutylamino)acridine; and 3-nitro-6,7-di-methoxy -9 - (2 -hydroxy-3-diethylaminopropylamino)acridine inhibited yolk sac infections of chick embryos with the agents of feline pneumonitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and meningopneumonitis. The first 2 compounds were less active against the virus of mouse pneumonitis, but the last-named inhibited this agent in chick embryos. Proflavine, atabrine, and drugs closely related to the above-mentioned nitro-acridines, except for substitution of Cl for NO2, had no significant inhibitory action. 3-Nitro-9-aminoacridine was intermediate in its effect. Respiratory infections in mice caused by the agent of feline pneumonitis were retarded by the 2 nitroacridines, but these drugs showed slight or no effect in mice against intranasal infection with the agents of mouse pneumonitis, lymphogranuloma venereum, and meningopneumonitis.