Out of different azapyrimidines tested for their ability to affect metabolism of orotic acid in the liver of rats kept on food only 5-azacytidine resulted in the enhanced incorporation of orotate into liver RNA following 24 hr pretreatment. Similar effect was observed also in cycloheximide-treated animals. No stimulation of orotic acid utilization following 5-azacytidine or cycloheximidine treatment was observed in the liver of starved animals. Both drugs (but not other pyrimidine analogues tested) depressed markedly gastric secretion in rats and caused decreased evacuation of the stomach. The decreased secretion of pepsin and lower gastric acidity resulting in drug-simulated starvation of the treated animals are discussed in relation to the enhanced uptake of orotic acid into liver RNA.
