Thiram inhibits angiogenesis and slows the development of experimental tumours in mice

Thiram-tetramethylthiuram disulphide – a chelator of heavy metals, inhibited DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in cultured bovine capillary endothelial cells. Bovine capillary endothelial cells were 10–60-fold more sensitive to thiram than other cell types. These effects were prevented by addition of antioxidants, indicating involvement of reactive oxygen species. Exogenously added Cu2+ impeded specifically and almost completely the inhibitory effect of thiram for bovine capillary endothelial cells. Moreover, thiram had markedly inhibited human recombinant Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase enzymatic activity (85%) in vitro. Moreover, PC12-SOD cells with elevated Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase were less sensitive to thiram treatment than control cells. These data indicate that the effects of thiram are mediated by inhibition of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity. Oral administration of thiram (13–30 μg mouse−1), inhibited angiogenesis in CD1 nude mice. Tumour development is known to largely depend on angiogenesis. We found that oral administration of thiram (30 μg) to mice caused significant inhibition of C6 glioma tumour development (60%) and marked reduction (by 3–5-fold) in metastatic growth of Lewis lung carcinoma. The data establish thiram as a potential inhibitor of angiogenesis and raise the possibility for its use as therapy in pathologies in which neovascularisation is involved, including neoplasia

Changes in lipoprotein lipase activity and plasma liver lipids in thiram intoxicated rats.

Acute thiram (tetramethyl-bis-thiocarbamyl disulphide) poisoning of rat (a single dose of 50% LD50) caused decreased lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in adipose tissue, the greatest inhibition being observed at 72 h after administration of the pesticide. Simultaneously, the levels of total plasma cholesterol, triacylglycerols and the high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were increased. On repeated pesticide administration (5% LD50) decreased LPL activity was observed after 14 and 30 days of poisoning, whereas after 90 days the LPL activity was distinctly increased. The levels of total cholesterol (in all periods of poisoning) and HDL cholesterol (only after 30 days of poisoning) became increased. These changes were accompanied by decreased content of free fatty acids and increase of hepatic triacylglycerols. The changes observed in the lipoprotein lipase activity of thiram-poisoned rats correspond to the profiles of plasma lipoproteins typical of thyroid hypofunction.</jats:p

Kinetics and metabolism of theobromine in male rats.

On the basis of general pharmacological information (blood cells/plasma partition, plasma protein binding) and using HPLC as the principal analytical method, we investigated the kinetics and metabolism of theobromine (a caffeine metabolite) in male rats after a single dose and after a 2 week chronic application. Doses in both conditions varied between 1 and 100 mg/kg. In in vitro and in vivo the fraction of theobromine unbound to plasma proteins averaged 0.90 over a wide range of concentrations. No significant difference was found in the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug after acute or chronic treatment at different doses except for a reduction in the absorption rate constant as the dose increased. AUC values increased in proportion to the dose. The 2 treatment schedules were also similar as regards metabolism, at least 50% of the administered dose of theobromine being excreted unchanged, and 25% as 6-amino-5-[N-methyl- formylamino ]1-methyluracil. Only at the highest doses was there a tendency for theobromine to accumulate at the expense of its major metabolite (a uracil compound)