METABOLIC EFFECTS OF AZASERINE IN RAT BRAIN

— The de novo biosynthesis of purine nucleotides in rat brain was markedly and rapidly inhibited by intracerebral injections of azaserine. After 48 hr the animals became paraplegic. The biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, RNA and protein was investigated by radioactive tracer studies over a 4-day period in an attempt to correlate the azaserine-induced, metabolic lesions found in rat brain and the manifested, peripheral, neurological disturbance.