Effect of sulfasalazine and its analogs on fertility in male rats.

Several derivatives of sulfasalazine were tested for their antifertility activity in male rats. The compounds were administered to groups of rats daily by oral gavage for 28 days. Fertility of the rats treated with sulfasalazine or compound CH 74A was reduced, while other compounds had no effect.

Olsalazine-O-sulphate: an acid labile metabolite of olsalazine.

The discovery of an acid labile metabolite of olsalazine, tentatively identified as olsalazine-O-sulphate, is described. Due to its acid labile properties, this conjugate was previously co-determined with olsalazine. Based on this finding, a new assay has been developed making it possible to determine both olsalazine and olsalazine-O-sulphate simultaneously.

Highly potent inhibition of prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase in-vitro and of prostaglandin inactivation in perfused lung by the new azobenzene analogue, Ph CL 28A.

The new azobenzene analogue Ph CL 28A (2-hydroxy-5-(3,5-dimethoxycarbonyl-benzoyl)-benzene acetic acid) potently inhibited prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase (PGDH) in the nanomolar range in-vitro and inhibited prostaglandin inactivation in rat perfused lung at similar concentrations, and is the most potent PGDH inhibitor yet available. It was synthesized because electronegative substituents in the B ring of homosalazine enhance PGDH inhibitory potency. Ph CL 28A inhibited human placental PGDH non-competitively with regard both to substrate PGF2 alpha (Ki = 18.

Inhibition of prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase by sulphasalazine and a novel series of potent analogues.

The ability of sulphasalazine, its colonic metabolites and various analogues to inhibit prostaglandin inactivation by two purified preparations of type INAD+-dependent prostaglandin 15-hydroxydehydrogenase or in various 100,000 g cytosolic supernatants was investigated using PGF2 alpha as substrate and radio-TLC. Bovine lung and human placental PGDH were inhibited in a dose-dependent and apparently non-competitive manner by sulphasalazine and most of the 26 salazine/sulphasalazine analogues tested, but the potencies of the analogues varied considerably. In a survey of structure-activity effects testing 30 drugs at a fixed dose (50 microM) in six test systems, it was established that only two aromatic rings are needed and that optimal PGDH inhibition requires -CH2COOH and -OH at positions 1 and 2 in the salicyl C ring system.

Distribution and metabolism in healthy volunteers of disodium azodisalicylate, a potential therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis.

A series of experiments has been performed in healthy male volunteers to investigate the disposition of orally administered disodium azodisalicylate, a potentially useful drug for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The drug was given by mouth in doses of up to 2 g a day for six weeks and there were no adverse effects. Serum concentrations of the intact compound were low and the serum half-time was 4-12.