[Sister chromatid exchanges under bromine incorporation into DNA cytosine nucleotides. II. Utilization of 3H-deoxycytidine as a DNA cytosine precursor].

The incorporation of 3H-deoxycytidine (3H-Cdr) in the presence of thymidine (Tdr) into cultured human blood lymphocytes has been studied. The analysis of the label in interphase nuclei as well as in chromosomes at metaphase was carried out. The labeling was much higher when 3H-Cdr (0.5 to 1.0 C/ml, 2--4 x 10(-5) mM) was added to the cultures simultaneously with Tdr (4 x 10(-1) mM). This observation is considered as an indication that in the presence of high doses of Tdr exogeneous Cdr is utilized to synthesize cytosine of DNA rather than thymidine. During the first hours after its addition, the bulk of 3H-Cdr is eliminated from the culture medium. At 12 hrs of the incubation, the medium seems to be free of the nucleoside as shown particularly from the single chromatid localization of the label in chromosomes of the second mitosis. The incorporation into lymphocytes of 3H-Tdr administered in the same dose under the same conditions was registered for the whole period of observation (24 hrs). The data obtained are discussed in relation to lymphocyte catabolism of exogeneous nucleosides.