Chloral hydrate mediated inhibition of cell division and of proton synthesis.

Chloral hydrate (along with other anaesthetics and hypnotics) is an inhibitor of cell division. We have shown that chloral hydrate is also an inhibitor of protein synthesis. This inhibition is unlikely to be a result of either of the disruption of cell division or of interference with the function of microtubules. The ability of chloral hydrate to inhibit cell division may result from its ability to inhibit protein synthesis.