Effects of sodium picosulfate and other laxatives in cultured Chang cells.

Cytotoxic effects were studied in Chang liver cells exposed to 4,4'-dihydroxy-diphenyl-(2-pyridyl)-methane-bis(hydrogen sulfate) (ether)-disodium salt (sodium picosulfate) and the results were compared with the effects of other laxatives. Sodium picosulfate caused a decrease in cell growth parallel to a decrease in glucose consumption and lactate production at 2000 and 4000 microgram/ml. On the contrary, 4,4'-dihydroxy-diphenyl-(2-pyridyl)-methane (bis-acodyl) decreased cell growth at 25 and 50 microgram/ml, while glucose consumption, lactate production and the molar ratio of glucose converted to lactate were increased. These effects were also observed with 4,4'-dihydroxy-diphenyl-(2-pyridyl)-methane (La 96), 3,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)oxindole (oxyphenisatin acetate) and 3,3-bis(p-acetoxyphenyl) phthalide (phenolphthalein) at doses of 25 and 50 microgram/ml. Diphenolic compounds seem to increase anaerobic glycolysis by inhibition of respiration. This assumption was confirmed with potassium cyanide, which is known to inhibit the electron transport in the respiratory chain. Actinomycin D, cycloheximide and hydroxyurea did not show such effects.