TETRAMISOLE

Description

Tetramisole is a racemic mixture of levamisole and its enantiomer dexamisole, which is a specific inhibitor of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). This drug is used in veterinary to treat of ascariasis and other worm infections e.g hook-"ms. And also is used as an immunostimulant (in that case it is used for longer periods of time).

Biological Activity

Levamisole ((-)-Tetramisole) hydrochloride is an anthelmintic and immunomodulator belonging to a class of synthetic imidazothiazole derivatives. Levamisole hydrochloride has antiviral effects against HSV.

in vitro

Tetramisole is active at low, atoxic oral and parenteral dose levels against all adult and immature gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematodes tested in 14 different hosts. Tetramisole (10 μg/mL) causes a sustained contraction of the isolated somatic muscles of the worm. Tetramisole reduces the resting potential of Ascaris muscle from 34 mV to 10 mV. Tetramisole causes contraction of Ascaris muscle previously depolarized with high K+ solutions. Tetramisole (0.1 mM) augmentes the twitch responses of both the directly and indirectly stimulated muscle in cats. Tetramisole (0.1 mM) increases the twitch response of the preparation and reverses the blocking action of tubocurarine in chickens. Tetramisole (0.1 mM) produces reversible neuromuscular block and contracture of the muscle in chickens.