Regulation of Nucleic Acid Synthesis by Androgens1

Abstract

Castration of adult male mice produced a progressive decrease in the weight of the kidney to a plateau at about 65% of normal within 14 days accompanied by a proportionate decrease in s-RNA. The total DNA also decreased but to a smaller degree while the total RNA decreased to a greater degree than the weight. Similar but greater decreases were observed in the prostate and seminal vesicles. The administration of testosterone propionate, testosterone, 17-methyltestosterone or androstan-17β-ol, 3-one gradually reversed the effects of castration. In addition the total RNA was increased during the period of rapid growth of the tissues to values above normal and then decreased to normal levels as the rate of growth of the tissues decreased. The thymus increased in weight after castration and decreased on androgen administration with concomitant changes in both DNA and RNA. The liver weight decreased slightly with proportionate decreases in s-RNA and RNA but not in DNA. Androgen administration reversed these changes and the androstan-17β-ol,3-one but not the testosterone compounds also produced an increase in DNA which was not evident until after 28 days of treatment. The protein and amino acid content of the tissues varied in direct proportion with the changes in weight.