This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yotis, W. W. Articles by Baman, S. I. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Yotis, W. W. Articles by Baman, S. I. Agricola Articles by Yotis, W. W. Articles by Baman, S. I.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1970 March; 19(3): 474-478
Copyright © 1970 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Action of Diethylstilbestrol on Staphylococci: Further Observations on the Effect of Resting Cells

Department of Microbiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois 60153

ABSTRACT

Diethylstilbestrol (DS) has been shown to be active against staphylococci and other gram-positive bacteria but not against gram-negative microorganisms. The present study extends these findings. Standardized suspensions of ¹⁴C-labeled Staphylococcus aureus serotypes III and IV and Shigella flexneri were prepared and exposed to pharmacological concentrations of DS (1 to 20 µg/ml) under diverse environmental conditions; the cells were removed by membrane filtration and the presence of radioactive substances in release to the supernatant fraction was followed by standard radioisotopic techniques. Controls were exposed similarly to the hormone vehicle alone (buffer containing 2% ethyl alcohol). DS at bactericidal concentrations above 6 µg/ml caused significant leakage of cellular radioactivity of S. aureus labeled with ¹⁴C-glucose and ¹⁴C-glutamic acid within 1 to 4 hr after exposure to DS. Maximum leakage of radioactivity occurred under anaerobic conditions at 37 C. Absorption studies of ¹⁴C-labeled DS indicated that the affinity of S. flexneri for DS is markedly less than that of S. aureus. This might be one reason for the resistance of gram-negative bacteria to DS.