Effect of cyclophosphamide vinblastine and nitracrine on bioelectric properties of the frog skin epithelium in vitro.

The influence of cyclophosphamide, vinblastine and nitracrine on the membrane sodium transport was studied using the frog skin epithelium and short-circuit current technique. Profound changes of bioelectric parameters were observed. The final effects showed a statistically significant drug-concentration dependence. A considerably weaker response of vinblastine-pretreated and nitracrine-pretreated epithelia to vasopressin was also observed. Basing on these observations and some other data obtained by different techniques, it is suggested that these drugs influence the function of the cellular membrane while making it less permeable in the case of cyclophosphamide or vinblastine and more permeable in the case of nitracrine. Presumably this initial effect has something to do with the final cytostatic effect of the drugs.