Method of delivering exogenous uridine or cytidine using acylated uridine or cytidine

A method of delivering exogenous cytidine to the tissue of an animal, comprising the step of administering to said animal an acyl derivative of cytidine having the formula (III) ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, and that R.sub.4 is not a fatty acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for treating cardiac insufficiency, comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment a composition in an amount to effect said treatment, said composition comprising an acyl derivative of uridine having the formula (I) ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for treating myocardial infarction, comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment a composition in an amount to effect said treatment, said composition comprising an acyl derivative of uridine having the formula (I) ##STR7## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for treating cirrhosis of the liver, comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment a composition sufficient in an amount to effect said treatment, said composition comprising an acyl derivative of uridine having the formula (I) ##STR8## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is hydrogen or an acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for treating cardiac insufficiency, comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment a composition in an amount to effect said treatment, said composition comprising an acyl derivative of cytidine, having the formula (III) ##STR10## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is a acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for treating myocardial infarction, comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment a composition in an amount to effect said treatment, said composition comprising an acyl derivative of cytidine, having the formula (III) ##STR11## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is a acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method for treating cirrhosis of the liver, comprising administering to an animal in need of such treatment a composition in an amount to effect said treatment, said composition comprising an acyl derivative of cytidine, having the formula (III) ##STR12## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and each is a acyl radical of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, enolpyruvic acid, an amino acid, a fatty acid of 2 to 22 carbon atoms, lipoic acid, pantothenic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, acetoacetic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, betahydroxybutyric acid, orotic acid, and creatine, provided that at least one of said R substituents is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.