3H-thymidine, 3H-uridine and 3H-leucine uptake in erythroblasts of patients with chronic renal failure.

The in vitro incorporation of 3H-thymidine, 3H-uridine and 3H-leucine, reflecting the synthetic capacity for DNA, RNA and protein, respectively, was detected by radioautography in the erythroid precursors of 10 patients with chronic renal failure. The results were compared with the uptake of the isotopes in the erythroid precursors of healthy subjects. The pattern of incorporation for all three isotopes in the patients' cells was similar to that of control cells, but significantly lower. The possible causes of this difference are discussed.