title: Niridazole as an immunosuppressive agent.
abstract: The immunosuppressive properties of niridazole, an antihelminthic drug, have been investigated in rats. When given orally at a dosage of 50 mg/kg it extended the median survival of cardiac allografts from 7 to 20 days. The immunosuppressive effect was not increased by giving either azathioprine or prednisolone concurrently, but when all three drugs were combined the immunosuppression was profound, and only 2 of 8 grafts were rejected. Drug combinations incorporating niridazole at a lower dosage or for a shorter period were less effective, and azathioprine and prednisolone on their own or together prolonged graft survival only marginally in this model.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009560:Niridazole / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009560:Niridazole