Changes in Submaxillary Gland Ribonucleic Acid Following Hypophysectomy, Thyroidectomy and Various Hormone Treatments.

Abstract

A histochemical study of location and concentration of RNA in the major salivary glands was made in animals which had been subjected to various experimental procedures. It was noted that only the acinar portion of the salivary gland exhibited RNA. None was found in the duct portion of any of the 3 major salivary glands. In the hypophysectomized rat RNA is strikingly reduced in the acini of all major salivary glands. Injection of cortisone does not appreciably affect this condition whereas thyroxine and testosterone in combination restore the RNA to normal concentration and location. A progressive loss of thyroid function produced by injecting graded doses of I131 resulted in progressive loss of cyto-plasmic RNA. This effect was obtained in submaxillary and sublingual glands. The parotid gland RNA was essentially unaffected by thyroidectomy.