Daunomycin, an anthracycline antibiotic has been isolated from Steptonayces peucetius var caesius. In its chemical structure, tetracycline ring is linked to the daunosamine by the glycosidic linkage. The biochemical mode of cytotoxic action of daunomycin results from its binding to DNA by intercalation between the base pairs, thereby inhibiting the DNA synthesis. The author has investigated the effect of daunomycin on the duodenal plasma cell in mice.
Albino mice, ICR strain, weighing 20 gm were used as experimental animals. The experimental animals were killed at 12, 24 and 48 hours after administration with 15 mg/kg of daunomycin. The specimens obtained from the duodenum were fixed in 10%-neutral formalin and stained with Methyl-green-pyronir.
The results were as follows.
1. In 12 hours daunomycin treated group, the number of plasma cell was increased around the capillary and lymphatic vessels in mouse duodenal mucosa.
2. In 24 hours daunomycin treated group, the number of plasma cell was increased and grouped in the mouse duodenal mucosa.
3. In 48 hours daunomycin treated group, the number of plasma cell in duodenal mucosa was decreased and morphological degeneration was also detected.
Consequently, it is suggested that daunomycin not only gives rise to changes in the number of plasma cell, but also to the morphological degeneration in the plasma cell.
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