Epygid: a new Soviet antioxidant promoted the selective inhibition of membrane-dependent protein synthesis in the brain.

Intraperitoneal injection of different amounts of Epygid (2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine) to 3- and 18-month-old rats led to significant reduction of translating activity in vitro of membrane-bound polysomes of brain cells, but not of free polysomes, more so for bound polysomes from 18-month-old animals than those from 3 months old. Separation of polysomes from membranes by Triton X-100 resulted in restoration of template activity to the level of free polysomes. The phenomenon may be related to incorporation of Epygid into the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum which contain a part of cell polysomes on their surface.