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The analysis of losses in slaughtered broilers based on the results of poultry meat inspection in a poultry slaughterhouse in 1991-1993 has shown that skin diseases are the main reason for condemnation of carcasses, followed by polyserositis and aerosacculitis, underdevelopment, skeletal diseases, and ascites syndrome. The incidence of skin diseases increased continuously between 1991 and 1993. Amongst the skin diseases eight separate diagnoses were differentiated. Dermatitis with cellulitis, dermal carcinomatosis, skin tears, scabby hip, and breast blisters are the most frequent ones. However, the permanent increasing dermatitis with cellulitis as well as the frequency rank following dermal carcinomatosis are of utmost importance.

In the prostate of adult Wistar rats the RNA/DNA quotient of the whole organ as well as the amount of RNA and DNA in the nucleus was measured at different times after castration. Furthermore the half-life time for the turnover of the RNA in the nucleus and the cytoplasm was determined for normal and castrated rats with the aid of pulse labelling using [5(-3)H]uridine. A mathematical model was developed to analyze the experimental results. This model enabled us to make differentiated statements on the heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hmRNA) and the remaining RNA in the nucleus. The evaluation of the experimental values gave the following results: 1. By deprivation of androgens the uptake of [3H]uridine into the prostate is lowered. 2. The amount of DNA in the morphologically intact nucleus remains constant at least up to the 12th day after castration. 3. 6 days after castration the amount of hmRNA decreases to 1/10 and that of cytoplasmic RNA to 1/4. 4. The half-life time for the decrease of the whole nuclear RNA is 3.7 d and that of the cytoplasmic RNA 1.7 d. 5. The half-life time for the turnover of hmRNA is 16 min and that of cytoplasmic RNA about 2 days. 6 days after castration the half-life times are unchanged. The experimental results suggest that the observed decrease of nuclear RNA following castration can mainly be attributed to a reduced synthesis of hnRNA, while the decrease of cytoplasmic RNA is first of all caused by an increase in RNA degradation.