| Abstract: | For clarification of the nature of the side effects of macrolide antibiotics on the gastrointestinal tract, the motor-stimulating activity of these agents was studied in unanesthetized dogs. The results showed that erythromycin and oleandomycin, the 14-membered macrolides with two side chain sugars combined at C3 and C5 in a glycosidic linkage in parallel, strongly stimulate gastrointestinal motor activity, an action accompanied by vomiting at large doses. On the other hand, leucomycin, acetylspiramycin, and tylosin, belonging to a 16-membered macrolide with two side chain sugars in series combined at C5 of the lactone ring, did not induce contractions of the gastrointestinal tract. Motor-stimulating activity by erythromycin and oleandomycin was greatly inhibited by atropine sulfate. These results point to structure-physiological activity relationships. |
