Ammonium chloride, as a heteropolar compound with pH value regulation, can cause intracellular alkalization and metabolic acidosis thus effecting enzymatic activity and influencing the process of biological system. Ammonium chloride is an autophagy inhibitor[1][2].
Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), a lysosomotropic agent that raises intralysosomal pH, reduces the yield of reovirus during infection of mouse L cells[2].
Ammonium chloride (0.28 M in drinking water) promotes the survival of myocardial cells in vivo by decreasing contractile dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy[1].
[1]. Huang X, et al. NH4Cl treatment prevents doxorubicin-induced myocardial dysfunction in vivo. Life Sci. 2019;227:94-100. [2]. Canning WM, Fields BN. Ammonium chloride prevents lytic growth of reovirus and helps to establish persistent infection in mouse L cells. Science. 1983;219(4587):987-988.