Molybdenum deprivation, purine ingestion and an astrocyte‐associated motor neurone syndrome in sheep: assumed clinical effects of inosine

BACKGROUND: An astrocyte‐associated motor neurone syndrome was produced in molybdenum‐deprived sheep fed xanthosine. Mo‐deprived sheep fed inosine, adenosine or guanosine would be also expected to develop astrocyte‐associated motor neurone syndromes, because all these purine nucleosides can act as neuromodulators and all depend on the Mo‐associated enzyme xanthine oxidase‐dehydrogenase for their catabolism. DESIGN: To investigate the relationship between inosine ingestion and low Mo concentration, eight sheep were fed lucerne chaff with a Mo value