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Inhibition of Virus-induced Cell Fusion by Local Anaesthetics and Phenothiazine Tranquillizers

Department of Virology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Du Cane Road, London, W. 12, England

We have examined the effect of five local anaesthetics (dibucaine, tetracaine, cocaine, lignocaine and procaine) and five phenothiazine tranquillizers (trifluoperazine, fluphenazine, promethazine, chlorpromazine and diphenhydramine) on cell fusion induced by viruses. When used at physiologically relevant concentrations, all drugs significantly inhibited cell fusion without impairing virus replication. It is suggested that these drugs inhibit cell fusion by occupying sites within the plasma membrane which must be vacant in order for membrane fusion to occur. Inhibition of cell fusion by these drugs provides experimental support for the suggestions put forward elsewhere that events in membrane fusion and membrane depolarization are similar.

Received 10 October 1971; accepted 21 February 1972.