Rats were treated with cortisone, x-radiation, and both agents in combination, and the effect noted on the DNA content of hepatocytes. Nuclei were enumerated both in whole liver homogenates and following isolation. The incorporation of P(32) into DNA was also studied in relation to these agents. The following observations were made:- 1.The DNA content of nuclei fell both during cortisone administration and following x-radiation. In the former instance, the fall was progressive with continuing administration of hormone; in the latter instance, there was a return to normal 5 days after radiation. 2. Cortisone administration to x-radiated rats caused a fall in DNA/nucleus and prevented the return to normal at 5 days. 3. There was no evidence that the effects of cortisone and x-rays were additive in reducing DNA/nucleus. 4. These data indicate an alteration in DNA/nucleus, but simple changes in ploidy cannot be excluded. Either explanation requires that the agents used affect the DNA of non-regenerating nuclei. 5. Cortisone interfered with the incorporation of P(32) into the DNA of regenerating liver. Only a small effect on DNA synthesis in resting liver was observed with cortisone or x-radiation. 6. DNA content of nuclei returned to normal 5 days after x-radiation and 3 days after discontinuance of cortisone. Slight increase in the incorporation of P(32) by DNA was observed during recovery phases. 7. The hypothesis is proposed that the apparent losses and increases in DNA/nucleus were due to depolymerization and repolymerization of DNA. Following x-radiation and/or cortisone administration, it is proposed that some DNA is depolymerized and becomes cold acid-soluble and dissociated from organized chromatin. Later, conditions are such that this degraded DNA is repolymerized. 8. These data might be interpreted to indicate that a portion of the DNA is not essential to cell integrity; alternatively, there may be two or more species of DNA, one of which is more readily affected by the agents investigated in the present report.

Animals↗

PubMed1956

Alterations in biochemical composition and ribonucleic acid metabolism induced in rat liver by cortisone.

An investigation of the effect of cortisone administration upon the chemical composition of intracellular particulates of rat liver has been made. Livers were homogenized in 0.25 M sucrose solutions and submitted to differential centrifugation. Five fractions were prepared: mitochondria (Mit), microsomes (Mi), ultracentrifugable (U), non-sedimentable (S), and nuclear (Nuc). Measurement was made of total and polymerized RNA, nitrogen, lipide P, and uptake of P(32) by the RNA of each fraction. The following observations were made:- Cortisone administration caused a fall in concentration in all measured constituents except glycogen. On a per liver basis, however, total liver RNA was unchanged in amount; nitrogen content of Mi fell and that of S increased; the lipide P of Mit and Mi also decreased. The biochemical composition of a statistical mitochondrion was significantly altered; in contrast, the microsomal fraction decreased in amount, but the relationship between the chemical constituents was unchanged. When polymerized RNA was sought by a process involving precipitation from ethanol at 20 degrees C., none was found in the Mit of cortisone livers and the amount in Mi was much less than found in the normal. When, however, precipitation was conducted at 4 degrees C., yields of polymerized RNA in all fractions after cortisone were equal to or greater than those found in the normal. Furthermore, incubation of mixtures of homogenates from normal and cortisone livers resulted in loss of warm precipitable RNA. These data strongly suggest the presence of an enzyme in cortisone livers which upon incubation with normal livers made preparation of polymerized RNA virtually impossible by use of the warm method. This agent, thought to operate in vivo and in vitro, was not present in significant amounts in normal livers, since incubation in this instance had no effect upon the amount of polymerized RNA. Mit from cortisone livers obtained by the cold technique had a significantly decreased rate of incorporation of P(32) even though the yield of RNA from this fraction was increased. To reconcile these observations, it was proposed that under the influence of cortisone a variant of normal RNA is synthesized or normal RNA is converted to this variant. This "new" RNA has new solubility properties, a new rate of incorporation of P(32), and conceivably it cannot act as a template for normal protein synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1956

Effects of cortisone and epinephrine on hepatic and myocardial glycogen of mice and rats.

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Animals↗

PubMed1955

Effects of cortisone on rat liver mitochondria.

Experiments were designed to determine the effects of parenteral administration of cortisone on mitochondrial numbers of rat liver cells. Observations were made in three ways: (1) after osmic acid fixation and appropriate stain, (2) by phase microscopy on intact cells, (3) by actual enumeration of mitochondria and nuclei to provide data on mitochondria per cell. The results of the experiments indicate that the mitochondria per cell are significantly reduced under the conditions used. Each experimental approach provided similar data, and each tended to support the results obtained from the others.

Animals↗

PubMed1955