title: Antifertility and antiproteolytic activity of activated N-carbobenzoxy amino acid esters.
abstract: N-Carbobenzoxy L-phenylalanine, glycine, L-leucine, and L-proline derivatives, their vinyl esters, and their 1,2-dibromoethyl esters were tested for antifertility activity in mice. Intraperitoneal administration reduced the pregnancy percentage and the number of fetuses per litter. Intravaginal administration reduced the pregnancy percentage significantly, with N-carbobenzoxyglycine vinly ester, N-carbobenzoxyglycine-1,2-dibromoethyl ester, N-carbobenzoxyl-L-leucine-1,2-dibromoethyl ester, and N-carbobenzoxy-L-proline-1,2-dibromoethyl ester producing 100% inhibition at 10 mg/kg/day. Sperm enzyme hydrolysis of the nonspecific substrate azocasein was inhibited significantly by certain N-carbobenzoxy amino acid esters in vitro. Specific substrate N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester hydrolysis was also inhibited. Compounds that inhibited N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester hydrolysis also demonstrated in vivo intravaginal antifertility activity.
mesh_terms: D000176:Acrosin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004952:Esters / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D051381:Rats; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004952:Esters; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D000176:Acrosin