Content of RNA in supraoptic and paraventricular neurones of rats with hereditary diabetes insipidus (Brattleboro strain).

Abstract

Institute of Neurobiology, University of Göteborg, Fack, S-400 33 Göteborg, Sweden (Received 7 February 1975) Brattleboro rats which have hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (DI) are unable to synthesize vasopressin, but produce oxytocin adequately (Valtin, 1967). Vasopressin and oxytocin are considered to be synthesized along with their respective 'carrier' polypeptide, neurophysin (see Sachs, 1970), and in accordance with this notion, DI rats have been shown to lack one neurophysin, suggested to be connected with vasopressin (Friesen & Astwood, 1967; Burford, Jones & Pickering, 1971). The synthesis of vasopressin occurs according to the RNA coding principle for protein synthesis (see Sachs, 1970). In view of the fact that the amino acid sequence is known for hormones and neurophysin (see du Vigneaud, 1954–5; Walter, Schlesinger, Schwartz & Capra, 1971), DI rats provide a model system for investigating factors controlling the synthesis of these peptides. In the present investigation the quantity of RNA in