Inhibitory effect of some membrane active drugs on RNA and DNA synthesis in cultured chick embryo liver cells

DL-Propranolol and oxprenolol, both beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents with membrane active properties, were found to inhibit the incorporation of uridine and thymidine into RNA and DNA respectively in cultures of chick embryo liver cells. The membrane active compounds quinidine and lidocaine had similar effects. D-Propranolol, which has a very slight beta-blocking action only but has a membrane activity similar to DL-propranolol, showed inhibition like that of DL-propranolol. Pindolol and practolol, beta-adrenergic blocking agents nearly devoid of membrane activity, had no effect on incorporation. The inhibition is reversible and non-competitive. It seems to be related to the membrane active properties of the drugs examined.