PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PICROLIV ON SITE-SPECIFIC INHIBITION OF PROTEIN-BIOSYNTHESIS IN RAT-LIVER

In vitro incubation with actinomycin-D, cycloheximide and puromycin at a concentration of 0.1-100 mu g mL(-1) caused a significant concentra tion-dependent decline in C-14-leucine incorporation by rat liver. In the case of rats given picroliv (12 mg kg(-1), p.o. for 7 days), the d ecline in C-14-leucine incorporation caused by actinomycin-D and purom ycin was significantly lower, while no protection was observed with cy cloheximide. These results suggest that picroliv provides significant protection at levels of both transcription and translation. The effect appears to be site-specific since picroliv was active only against pu romycin- and not against cycloheximide-inhibited translation.