Membrane stabilizers inhibit potassium efflux from Staphylococcus aureus strain No. U2275.
The effect of different categories of membrane stabilizers on K+ loss and growth has been characterized in a culture of Staphylococcus aureus. Chlorpromazine, thiopental and tetracaine at low concentrations produced a marked inhibition of K+ loss and an equivalent increase in the K+ contents of S. aureus. Whereas the inhibitory effect of chlorpromazine on K+ loss was observed at lower than bacteriostatic concentrations of the drug, thiopental had no effect on growth in the concentration range where K+ loss was maximally inhibited. It is concluded that the bacteriostatic action of chlorpromazine is probably not related to its membrane stabilizing effect only.
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology*
D013748:Tetracaine; D013874:Thiopental; D011188:Potassium; D002746:Chlorpromazine