THE EFFECT OF ENZYME REPLACEMENT ON RED-CELL ADENINE DEOXYRIBONUCLEOTIDES IN ADENOSINE DEAMINASE-DEFICIENT ERYTHROCYTES OF THE OPOSSUM, DIDELPHIS-VIRGINIANA

1. Polyethyleneglycol-modified bovine adenosine deaminase was administ ered (10-20 U/kg/week) intramuscularly to two opossums for 15 weeks an d changes in red cell adenine ribo- and deoxyribonucleotides quantitat ed by HPLC. 2. Only a moderate decline of erythrocyte dAXP was observe d at the end of the study when compared to results of enzyme replaceme nt seen in human adenosine deaminase deficient patients. 3. Opossum re d cells salvage substantial amounts of deoxyadenosine provided in phys iologic (50 nM) concentration from plasma having either low or high ad enosine deaminase activity.