A single i.p. administration of an immunomodulatory agent 6-MFA (a biological response modifier and antiviral agent of fungal origin, 10 mg/100g b.wt.), on 5th day of repeated acrylamide (ACR, 50 mg/kg b.wt.) treatment significantly protected rats against its specific neurotoxic effects. Corpus striatal 3H-spiperone binding elevated (24%) while glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity decreased (33%) in ACR group but values were markedly restored in 6-MFA alone and co-exposed group. Development of hind limb paralysis was also protected by 6-MFA. Results warrant the possible involvement of immune mechanisms and certain other factors such as lymphokines, hormones and microglia at the target site, which in turn facilitate the repair mechanism suggesting a therapeutic role of 6-MFA in clinical cases of toxic neuropathies in future.

Acrylamides↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Protective effect of fungal growth product (6MFA), assessed therapeutically against Ehrlich's ascites tumor in Swiss mice.

6MFA is a growth product of the fungus Aspergillus ochraceus (ATCC 28706) obtained by fermentation in stationary culture. It has both interferon inducing and antiviral properties, in vivo and in vitro, with a relatively high margin of safety (9, 17, 18). Ehrlich's ascites tumor bearing Swiss albino male mice were treated with 0.5 ml of acqueous preparation of 6MFA (0.75 mg total solids) i.p. in a therapeutic regimen schedule; the sham treated mice received only PBS. 6MFA treatment produced an increase in mean survival time over the untreated controls, restricted the body weight increase due to ascites and decreased the rate of mortality. As much as 100% of survival response was obtained in the group treated with 0.5 ml of 6MFA at the rate of one inoculation per week for 5 weeks. In general a dose-dependent response was seen in the antitumor effect of 6MFA against Ehrlich's ascites tumor in Swiss mice. Delay in administration of 6MFA to tumor bearing mice affected the survival rate.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Protective effect of 6-MFA, an interferon inducer against acrylamide neurotoxicity.

Protective effect of 6-MFA, an interferon inducer and antiviral agent of fungal origin, was investigated against the neurotoxic effects induced by acrylamide in rats. Animals of 6-MFA (2.5, 5, 10 mg/100 gm, i.p.) pretreated plus acrylamide (ACR) group exhibited a reduction in development of hind limb paralysis which was 34, 25 and 20 (%) with increasing doses of 6-MFA respectively. Corpus striatal dopamine binding was significantly raised in the ACR treated rats while 6-MFA (10 mg) plus ACR group showed no significant change, in comparison to respective controls. Increased binding in the 6-MFA (2.5, 5 mg) pretreated plus ACR group was also evident. Glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activity was markedly reduced (66%) in ACR alone rats while no change was noted in rats pretreated with either dose of 6-MFA alone. However, a significant reversal was noted in animals of 6-MFA plus ACR group in a dose related manner. Conservation of glutathione levels and involvement of microglia, gamma-interferon and other lymphokines has been suggested for the observed protective effect of 6-MFA against neurotoxicity of ACR.

Acrylamides↗