The in vitro synthesis of RNA within the rat nodose ganglion following vagotomy.

Abstract

Abstract: This report describes the application of an in vitro labelling procedure for the evaluation of changes in the uptake and incorporation of tritiated nucleotides into RNA of the rat nodose ganglion following crush injury of the cervical vagus nerve. Significant changes in the incorporation into 28S, 18S and 4S RNA were observed at 3 and 9 days after injury which confirms and extends our previous in vivo observations where [32P]orthophosphate was used as the precursor. An early stimulation in the uptake of nucleotides, which was maximal at 2 days after injury, was also observed. Evidence is presented which indicates that this data reflects a real increase in RNA synthesis within the injured tissue concomitant with an increase in the uptake of nucleotide precursors which may reflect an increase in the nucleotide pool size. The transient nature of the rRNA synthetic responses and their occurrence prior to the peak of the chromatolytic changes suggest that there may be a shift in the distribution of ribosome types resulting in qualitative changes in protein production rather than an overall increase in protein synthesis resulting from an increased ribosome population.