Pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis from exogenous cytidine in the isolated rat heart

The rate of incorporation of exogenous cytidine into the pyrimidine nucleotides of isolated perfused rat hearts bears a Michaelis-Menten kinetic relationship to the extracellular concentration of the precursor, with an apparent Km of 10 microM and a maximal rate of incorporation of about 60 nmol per gram (ww) per 30 minutes. The myocardial cytosine nucleotide content was significantly increased by a 30 minute supply of 15 microM cytidine and more than doubled after a 2 hour administration period of 50 microM cytidine. In the latter case, the rate of cytidine incorporation fell by 30% (with respect to the initial uptake) during the last 30 minutes of administration. These results suggest that the uptake of cytidine can play an important part in the myocardial cytosine nucleotide metabolism under physiological conditions.