A mathematical model has been analysed describing uridine uptake in mammalian cells as a tandem process that involves membrane transport and uridine phosphorylation within the cell. The measurement of kinetic parametres of uridine uptake in 3T6 cells showed that the transport system possesses a low affinity to uridine (Kt = 145 microM) and a high velocity (Vt = 10 microM/sec), whereas the phosphorylation system possesses a high affinity for uridine (Ke = 10 microM) and a low velocity (Ve = 0.17 microM/sec). A method of construction of "ideal" curves was proposed, describing the time dependence of uridine uptake which helps to verify values of kinetic parameters obtained. On the basis of the theoretical analysis and generalization of experimental data it was concluded that the optimum conditions of uridine transport parameters measuring at 25 degrees C involve the uridine concentration in the medium equal to 20-200 microM, and the time of cell incubation, 2-20 sec, while the optimum conditions of uridine phosphorilation parameters measuring being its concentration in the medium 5-20 microM and the cell incubation longer than 1 minute.