THE EFFECT OF ADRENOCORTICOTROPHIN ON THE NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM OF THE RAT ADRENAL GLAND

Abstract

SUMMARY Treatment of female rats with adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) increased the RNA content of the adrenal glands progressively during a period of 3 days, the DNA content increased only after prolonged administration. By contrast, ACTH caused a decrease in the uptake of [ 32 P]orthophosphate into the total RNA of the gland and into most of the RNA fractions of the subcellular components. A method of analysis for RNA and DNA based on the Schmidt-Thannhauser procedure has been evolved which eliminates extraction of nucleic acid by lipid solvents.