Effects Of Aspirin-like Drugs Research Articles

Effects of aspirin-like drugs on mitogen-stimulated DNA synthesis of lymphocytes from pregnant rats and offspring.

Previous studies have shown that salicylates and protein-calorie malnutrition compromise immunological responses in humans and experimental animals. The present study compared the effects of prenatal normal and low protein diets, with and without aspirin-like drug treatments, on lymphocyte blastogenesis measured by tritiated thymidine uptake for DNA synthesis in splenic lymphocytes from pregnant rats and their offspring following stimulation with the mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen. Aspirin treatment was associated with increased lymphocyte thymidine uptake for blastogenesis in pregnant rats fed the normal protein control diet and their offspring. The phytohemagglutinin-stimulated increase detected in offspring lymphocytes could not be statistically guaranteed. A low protein diet alone and a normal protein diet combined with salicylamide treatment was associated with decreased blastogenesis in pregnant rats but not in their offspring. Salicylamide or aspirin combined with a low-protein diet decreased blastogenesis in both dams and their offspring. Aspirin combined with a normal protein diet did not adversely affect blastogenesis in either pregnant rats or their offspring. This study suggests that low dietary protein and aspirin-like drugs may independently decrease lymphocyte blastogenesis of pregnant rats and in combination they may also reduce lymphocyte blastogenesis in offspring. The significance of increased lymphocyte blastogenesis in both mothers and offspring following aspirin treatment of pregnant rats fed a normal protein diet is unclear.

Potential therapeutic applications of aspirin and other cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors.

1 The ubiquitous actions of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors are described. 2 These include the inhibitory effect on prostaglandin synthesis and the direct effect of aspirin on lymphocytes and their ability to produce lymphokines. 3 Aspirin reduces some types of platelet aggregation possibly involving inhibition of the precursors of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin. 4 The therapeutic implications in relation to transient ischaemic attacks, coronary artery disease and reno-allograft rejection are discussed. 5 The beneficial and adverse effects on the gastro-intestinal tract are described. 6 The effects of aspirin-like drugs on the genito-urinary tract are described with particular reference to their adverse effects on labour and their therapeutic effect on dysmenorrhoea.

Effects of aspirin-like drugs on canine gastric mucosal blood flow and acid secretion.

1. The effects of aspirin, paracetamol and benorylate were studied on gastric mucosal blood flow (MBF) and acid secretion in canine denervated gastric pouches. 2. Aspirin 20 mM in the unstimulated pouch had no effect; pentagastrin-stimulated acid output, but not MBF, was reduced. Aspirin buffered to pH 6 was ineffective. 3. Aspirin 3-50 mg/kg reaching the pentagastrin-stimulated pouch through the blood, increased acid secretion and MBF, but the MBF:secretion ratio was variably affected. 4. Paracetamol (10 or 20 mg/kg i.v., or 20 mM in the pouch) or benorylate (280 mg/kg orally) mainly had little effect. 5. Circular muscle strips from dog arteries were contracted by prostaglandins E2, F1alpha or F2alpha, and often slightly by indomethacine, but prostaglandin E1 produced variable effects. 6. These results do not favour the view that aspirin causes gastric bleeding in dogs by breakdown of blood vessels due to ischaemia following mucosal vasoconstriction.