Chemotherapeutic Effects of a Naphthoquinonimine on Infection of Mice with Columbia-SK Group of Viruses.

Abstract

The chemotherapeutic effect of naphthoquinonimine (compound Ro 2-3532/1) was studied on the peripheral infection of mice with Col-SK virus, F virus and EMC virus. A well tolerated single dose of 5 mg. of the drug, admd. intraperit., protected a high percentage of the mice against infection with multiple paralytic doses of Col-SK or F virus injd. simultaneously by the same route. Expts. in which the virus was injd. intraperit. but the drug subcut showed likewise a definite degree of protection though inferior to that observed when both were given by the same route. Significant protection could also be obtained up to and including 1 hr. after intraperit. infection with small doses of virus. Expts. in which the drug was tested fox its chemotherapeutic action against EMC virus showed only a minimum degree of protection considered to be insignificant. Some attempts were made to analyze the probable mode of action of the drug on Col-SK virus. It is concluded that protection occurs not because of cell-receptor blockade but that the virus is rendered non-infectious by some form of direct interaction between virus and drug.