EFFECT OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY ON RIBONUCLEIC-ACID SYNTHESIS IN PRIMARY SPERMATOCYTES ISOLATED FROM RAT TESTES

RNA synthesis was examined in pachytene spermatocytes isolated from intact immature rats and from hypophysectomized immature rats (2–4 days after hypophysectomy). Hypophysectomy did not result in changes in the synthesis and turnover of “heterogeneous” RNA as well as the synthesis and processing of rRNA from spermatocytes. The uptake and incorporation of 3H‐uridine in the spermatocyte population isolated from hypophysectomized rats, however, was decreased. These contradictory results were explained by radioautographic experiments which showed that 25 ± 6% of the pachytene spermatocytes isolated from hypophysectomized rats were unlabelled after incubation with 3H‐uridine, whereas only 3 ± 2% of the pachytene spermatocytes from intact rats were unlabelled. It appeared therefore that in the absence of gonadotropic hormones from the pituitary gland, RNA synthesis in many spermatocytes remained unchanged for at least several days, although an increased number of the spermatocytes became inactive. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved