The protein composition and nucleic acid content of the rat uterus in different states

Abstract

Four protein fractions, ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were estimated in the rat uterus in mid-estrus, at the end of pregnancy and after ovariectomy. The protein fractions were: (i) soluble in 1.25 [image] KC1 solution; (ii) precipitated on dilution of this extract; (iii) the residue soluble in 0.1 N NaOH solution; (iv) the insoluble residue. The most important changes in the fractions, expressedas percentages of the total protein/were a significant fall in (i) and rise in (iv) after ovariectomy, as compared with the estrous state; and a significant rise in (i) and fall in (iv) by the end of pregnancy, as compared with the estrous state. When certain corrections were made there was significantly less of fraction (ii) after ovariectomy than in the other two states. The RNA/DNA ratios in mid-estrus, at the end of pregnancy and after ovariectomy were 1.29, 2.34 and 0.39 respectively.