Cytotoxicity of L-canavanine in vitro.

Cytotoxicity of L-canavanive, a structural analogue of L-arginine, was tested by means of (1) inhibition of DNA synthesis in Balb/c-3T3 cell line and (2) inhibition of mitosis in peripheral blood lymphocytes in culture. The cytostatic nature of inhibition caused by L-canavanine was indicated by the complete recovery of cells after withdrawal of the drug.