Interference of sulpiride with the mitogenic activation of lymphocytes cultured in vitro.

The action of a psychotropic substance, N-ethyl-2(2-methoxy-5--sulfamido-benzamidomethyl)-pyrrolidine (sulpiride, Dobren), on cellular metabolism has been studied by means of the in vitro lymphocyte activation technique. The effect of the continuous presence of the compound in the culture, at a concentration permitting cellular vitality was evaluated. Furthermore the effect of the drug on the culture during the lymphocyte stimulating phase and during the incorporation phase of 3H-thymidine was separately evaluated. The results indicate that the sample population can be divided into two different groups depending on the modality of the response to the drug in vitro taken as activity index (A.I.). Whether our conclusion has any practical significance remains to be elucidated.