Effect of nitrous oxide on human bone marrow cells and its synergistic effect with methionine and methotrexate on functional folate deficiency.
5-Methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine methyltransferase activity in human bone marrow cells obtained from patients undergoing surgical operation became low after about 4 hr of nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia. The deoxyuridine suppression test performed on these bone marrow cells also became abnormal after about 6 hr of N2O anesthesia. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA in the bone marrow cells preincubated with methionine or methotrexate was much higher after N2O anesthesia than before anesthesia. Since N2O and methionine or methotrexate have a synergistic effect on depletion of functional folate, N2O alone or in combination with methionine or methotrexate might be of value for cancer treatment and deserve clinical trials.
D013766:5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003857:Deoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011624:Pteroylpolyglutamic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D011624:Pteroylpolyglutamic Acids; D004247:DNA; D008715:Methionine; D008780:Methyltransferases; D013766:5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D003857:Deoxyuridine; D008727:Methotrexate