Experiments to illustrate the effect of chlorpromazine on the permeability of the bacterial cell wall.

The present investigation has been made to illustrate whether the cell walls of micro-organisms are affected by membrane stabilizers. In vitro experiments were carried out with S. aureus under the influence of chlorpromazine (CPZ). De-pigmentation and a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect of CPZ on the micro-organisms were seen. It has been shown that concentrations of CPZ near the bacteriostatic value, in combination with bacterial haemolysins, alters erythrocyte membranes (horse and rabbit) in such a way that they become resistant to haemolysis. It has been shown that CPZ in bacteriostatic concentration probably changes the transport of potassium through the bacterial membrane in the same manner as described for mammalian muscle tissue.