Some observations on the reversibility of methotrexate toxicity in normal proliferating tissues
Straw, J.A.; Talbot, D.C.; Taylor, G.A.; Harrap, K.R.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 58(1): 91-97
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-8874 PMID: 299894 Document Number: 118394
Thymidine, in the absence of hypoxanthine, failed to protect normal mice from the acute toxicity of methotrexate, though tumor-bearing animals could be protected with thymidine alone, probably as a result of the availability of DNA degradation products released from drug sensitive tumor cells. Although methotrexate induced an early purine deficiency in gut cells, this effect was not detected in bone marrow. Later, purine deficiency become apparent in the gut and bone marrow of methotrexate treated animals.