Effect of cyclophosphamide pretreatment of pregnant animals on the activity of nuclear DNA-dependent RNA-polymerases in different parts of rat embryos.

Abstract

On day 13+0 h of gestation rats received 10 mg/kg cyclophosphamide i.p. 3, 9, and 24 h after administration of the drug the activities of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase reactions were measured in the whole embryo and in parts of it (head, upper and lower extremities and trunk). The activities of these enzymes were correlated with the increase in the RNA content of these tissues. A relationship was established light and electron microscopically between the biochemical results and the specific alterations which occur in different structures of the embryonic tissue. The results of these investigations show that: