The effect of podophyllotoxin, colchicine, urethane, and nitrogen mustard on the respiration of normal and suprarenalectomized rat lymphatic tissue.

The injection of podophyllotoxin, colchicine, and a nitrogen mustard derivative, methyl-bis(beta-chloroethyl)amine, into normal animals causes a reduction of the respiration of the lymphatic tissues, spleen, and/or thymus. No effect was demonstrable on kidney, a representative tissue of non-lymphatic origin. The degree of inhibition was considerably less in suprarenalectomized animals, suggesting that the inhibition is mediated by the suprarenal gland.