Prevention of Orotic Acid-Induced Fatty Liver with Allopurinol

Abstract

Allopurinol in small amounts (0.05% of the diet) is completely effective in preventing the fatty liver and the changes in hepatic adenosine and uridine nucleotide concentrations produced in rats by feeding orotic acid (1% of the diet). The action of allopurinol may be explained by known effects on both purine and pyrimidine metabolism. The results provide further support for a biochemical link between the altered nucleotide levels and the block in hepatic lipid transport produced by orotic acid.