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Quantitative Changes in DNA, RNA, and Protein Content of the Various Organs of the Young of Undernourished Female Rats¹

Institut de diététique et de nutrition, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Changes in the nucleic acid and protein content of the pancreas, spleen, lung, and cardiac and skeletal muscle of the young of female rats undernourished during the period of gestation (group 1) and during the period of growth, gestation, and lactation (group 2) were studied. The total organ weight, DNA, RNA, and protein content were all reduced in the organs of young of both experimental groups compared with those of the control group. There was a considerable increase in pancreas weight expressed as a percentage of body weight in young in both experimental groups. Relative spleen and skeletal muscle weight declined in young in both experimental groups compared with those in the control group. In the lung these values decreased in group 1 and increased in group 2 compared with those in the control group. The heart weight as a percentage of body weight decreased in group 1 but showed no change in group 2. Weight to DNA ratio decreased in the pancreas, spleen, and cardiac and skeletal muscle and increased in the lung of both experimental groups compared with that of control groups. RNA to DNA ratio also decreased in the pancreas and spleen of both experimental groups. This ratio did not change in lung of group 1 but increased considerably in group 2. There was a slight increase in this ratio in the heart of group 1 whereas in group 2 it decreased. No change in this ratio could be observed in the skeletal muscle of group 1, but it decreased in group 2. Protein to DNA ratio decreased in the pancreas and skeletal muscle of both experimental groups as well as in the spleen and heart of the young of group 2. This ratio increased in the spleen of the young of group 1 as well as in the lung of both experimental groups. It did not show any change in the heart of the young of group 1.

KEY WORDS: • DNA • RNA • protein • undernourished rats

¹ This work has been supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada.

Manuscript received 1 February 1974.