Effect of testosterone on ribonucleic acid metabolism in the prostate, seminal vesicle, liver and thymus of immature rats.

Abstract

A single injection of 1 mg testosterone stimulated the synthesis of RNA in the ventral prostate, seminal vesicle and liver of immature rats. In contrast, the metabolism of RNA in the thymus was unaltered by treatment with testosterone. The synthesis of RNA at varying times after the injection of androgen was estimated by the injection of 3H-cytidine 30 min before the rats were killed. The specific activity of the RNA from the purified nuclei and the cytoplasm of these organs was increased markedly 2 and 12 hr after the administration of testosterone but decreased toward control levels at 38 hr. The amount of tritium sedimenting with cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA of ventral prostate and liver was increased 2 and 12 hr after the administration of testosterone. In control rats, isotope was incorporated into the soluble RNA fraction within the 30 min following the injection of 3H-cytidine. The amount of RNA per g tissue in seminal vesicle increased slightly at 12 hr and markedly at 38 hr following administration of testosterone. No significant increase in the weight of the accessory sex glands was observed until 38 hr after the administration of testosterone. (Endocrinology82: 463, 1968)