Synthesis of organogermanium compounds and their effect on phospholipid metabolism of mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Three organogermanium compounds synthesized by the authors including carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132), carbamoylethyl germanium sesquioxide (CGS) and alpha, beta-dicarboxyethyl germanium sesquioxde (DGS) could significantly stimulate mouse peritoneal macrophages (M phi s) which mediate MTC effect against mouse ascites hepatoma cells with high lymph duct metastatic capacity (HCa-F-25/16A(3)-F) and human monocytoid leukemic cells by oral administration at one dose of 100 mg/kg. The CGS and DGS were more effective than Ge-132 in enhancing MTC effect at the above dose, and CGS had the strongest effect. The M phi s activated in vivo by CGS, DGS and Ge-132 at one dose of 100 mg/kg showed increased incorporation of [H-3] choline into phosphatidylcholine (PC), and the most significant increase was observed when M phi s were activated by DGS. M phi s activated in vivo by Ge-132 also showed increased incorporation of [P-32] Pi and [H-3] choline into PC, and decreased. incorporation of [P-32] Pi and [H-3] inositol into PI when compared with resident peritoneal M phi s. No significant difference was observed on the incorporation of [P-32] Pi and [H-3] inositol into polyphosphoinositide (PIP and PIP2) between the Ge-132 activated M phi s and the resident peritoneal M phi s. The enhanced PC turnover of M phi s might be necessary for the expression of MTC in activated M phi s.