Observations on the effects of aspirin on cells in vitro

Author

Roger Scott Barron, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1970

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Department

Behavioral Sciences

First Advisor

Fuad M. Nahhas

Second Advisor

Donald M. Pace

Abstract

Numerous reports concerned with the effects of chemical agents (drugs) on animals, especially humans, have appeared in the literature over a period of centuries. Until very recently, however, the observations on which these reports were based have been rather general. The salicylates, for example, have been used and studied for many years yet investigations into their specific effects within living cells are minimal.

Of the several members of the salicylate group, the two that have gained widespread use in clinical practice are sodium salicylate and acetylsalicylic acid, commonly known as aspirin, the name of which was derived from the contraction of the world acetyl, plus the world spirit from Spiraea, a plant whose members contain salicylate compounds.

Although investigations on the in vivo effects of the salicylates began many years ago, little is known about the basic nature of their effects.

Today, the salicylates are used mainly as antipyretics, analgesics, and particularly as anti-inflammatories in rheumatic disorders.

In order to understand more fully the mode of action of the salicylates, attempts must be made to pinpoint the sites of their action. Although a considerable amount of work has been done on the effects of salicylates on the whole animals, relatively few investigations have been made at the cell, tissue and organ levels. However, in recent years, investigations at these levels have increased so that suggestions as to the manner in which salicylates exert their influence are becoming more meaningful.

The salicylates have been shown to affect carbohydrate metabolism and some in vivo studies have been concerned more specifically with their effect on blood sugar levels; however, the results of this work are somewhat contradictory. This action seems to be related to their effect on oxidative phosphorylation, to an increase in the uptake of glucose, and to an increase in the rate of tissue glycolysis. A decrease in the rate of synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors and an increase in the rate of glycogenolysis have also been suggested by Smith and Smith (1966).

Huggins et al (1961), employing rat liver, brain, and heart muscle tissues, have suggested that salicylates cause an increase in the incorporation of pyruvate into glutamic acid. Further investigations indicated that practically every enzyme system using glutamate as a substrate was inhibited by the action of salicylate in vitro, but the mechanisms appear to differ in the various systems. Because of the relatively few reports appearing in the literature on the effects of salicylates at the cellular level and because of the rather controversial results obtained, the following investigations were made.

Pages

66

Recommended Citation

Barron, Roger Scott. (1970). Observations on the effects of aspirin on cells in vitro. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2991