THYMINE AND URACIL METABOLISM IN EPIDERMIS

[摘要] Hairless mice were injected with radioactive thymidine and uridine and the pattern of labelling in the epidermis investigated. The data suggest that pyrimidine bases released following the hydrolysis of nucleic acids are reabsorbed into the systemic circulation. This is confirmed by the failure to observe any degradation of thymine and uracil by epidermal tissue. Small amounts of these bases may be lost in the stratum corneum, but this represents a minor pathway.