| immunosuppressive agents | Agents that suppress immune function by one of several mechanisms of action. Classical cytotoxic immunosuppressants act by inhibiting DNA synthesis. Others may act through activation of suppressor T-cell populations or by inhibiting the activation of helper cells. While immunosuppression has been brought about in the past primarily to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, new applications involving mediation of the effects of interleukins and other cytokines are emerging. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| intercalating agents | Agents that are capable of inserting themselves between the successive bases in DNA, thus kinking, uncoiling or otherwise deforming it and therefore preventing its proper functioning. They are used in the study of DNA. (12 Dec 1998) |
| iron chelating agents | Organic chemicals that form two or more coordination links with an iron ion. Once coordination has occurred, the complex formed is called a chelate. The iron-binding porphyrin group of haemoglobin is an example of a metal chelate found in biological systems. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tocolytic agents | Drugs that prevent preterm labour and immature birth by suppressing uterine contractions. Agents used to delay premature uterine activity include magnesium sulfate, beta-mimetics, oxytocin antagonists, calcium channel inhibitors, and adrenergic beta-receptor agonists. The use of intravenous alcohol as a tocolytic is now obsolete. (12 Dec 1998) |
| embedding agents | Materials such as celloidin, paraffin, etc. In which specimens of tissue are set before being cut into sections for microscopic examination. (05 Mar 2000) |
| TRIC agents | Strains of Chlamydia trachomatis that cause trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis agents See: Chlamydia trachomatis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| trypanocidal agents | Agents destructive to the protozoal organisms belonging to the suborder trypanosmatina. (12 Dec 1998) |
| excitatory amino acid agents | Drugs used for their actions on any aspect of excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter systems. Included are drugs that act on excitatory amino acid receptors, affect the life cycle of excitatory amino acid transmitters, or affect the survival of neurons using excitatory amino acids. (12 Dec 1998) |
| keratolytic agents | Agents that soften, separate, and cause desquamation of the cornified epithelium or horny layer of skin. They are used to expose mycelia of infecting fungi or to treat corns, warts, and certain other skin diseases. (12 Dec 1998) |
| uncoupling agents | Chemical agents that uncouple oxidation from phosphorylation in the metabolic cycle so that ATP synthesis does not occur. Included here are those ionophores that disrupt electron transfer by short-circuiting the proton gradient across mitochondrial membranes. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fertility agents | Drugs used to increase fertility or to treat infertility. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fertility agents, female | Compounds which increase the capacity to conceive in females. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fertility agents, male | Compounds which increase the capacity of the male to induce conception. (12 Dec 1998) |
| flavoring agents | Pharmaceutical or other preparations for improving the taste of a food or medicine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| foamy agents | Retroviruses of the subfamily Spumavirinae, found in primates and other mammals; so named because of lacelike changes produced in monkey kidney cells; syncytia are also produced. Synonym: foamy agents. (05 Mar 2000) |