Stimulation of sporulation ofClostridium perfringens by papaverine

Summary Papaverine induced sporulation inClostridium perfringens, strains FD-1 and PS52; growth was markedly slowed under these conditions. Papaverine induced sporulation in the presence of glucose, a sporulation repressor, although increasing glucose concentrations overcame the papaverine effect. Papaverine induced sporulation of strain FD-1 more effectively than did theophylline.The author wishes to thank Mrs P.A. Thompson for excellent technical assistance.