Hypoxanthine is a naturally occurring purine derivative and intermediate in the synthesis of uric acid.
1,2 It is elevated in the spinal fluid of patients with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a metabolic disorder whose symptoms include cerebral palsy, cognitive deficits, motor dysfunction, self-mutilation, and hyperuricemia.
1 Injection of hypoxanthine (10 μM) increases succinate dehydrogenase and complex II activities and decreases cytochrome c oxidase activity, resulting in neuroenergetic impairment, ATP depletion, and cellular apoptosis in rat striatum. It is also used to induce hyperuricemia in mice for use in the development of hypouricemic agents.
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