Aspirin blocks 5-azacytidine- and hydroxyurea-induced changes in hemoglobin proportions in adult rats.

The effects of 5-azacytidine and hydroxyurea on their independent ability to change adult hemoglobin proportions toward newborn proportions in adult rats were examined. The results revealed that both the chemotherapeutic agents were capable of switching certain hemoglobin components toward newborn values and required similar time-span to express their actions. However, the switching effect of these drugs was totally lost if aspirin was simultaneously administered into the rats, reflecting the need for concurrent prostaglandin synthesis.