Studies in Purine Metabolism

Abstract

In hunger the nuclear-plasmic ratio falls slightly below normal, indicating a greater relative loss of nuclear than of cytoplasmic material. The protein-reserve theory of Rubner must therefore be reconsidered. Purine feeding does not increase the nuclear-plasmic ratio, whence it follows that purine bodies are not assimilated and stored by the mammal. Purine bodies are synthesized with comparative ease by the adult albino rat.