The effect of some antibiotics on endogenous phospholipase activity in rat liver

In relation to a previous paper (J. Antibiotics 32: 734-739, 1979), the effect of some antibiotics on endogenous phospholipid degradation of rat liver was investigated by slice and perfusion techniques. Polymyxin B inhibited this degradation most strongly, benzylpenicillin, chloramphenicol and peplomycin inhibited moderately, and carbenicillin, cephaloridine and streptomycin did not inhibit. Tetracaine and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, which are not antibiotics, also showed inhibitory effects. The results strongly suggest that besides their usual antibiotic actions, some antibiotics may participate in endogenous phospholipid metabolism and biomembrane functions of host cells.