Effect of maternal dietary deficiency on the metabolism of high-molecular weight, soluble and transfer RNA in the liver of the 21-day-old offspring of rats

The 21-day-old male progeny of dietary-restricted rats were administered 14 C-orotic acid intraperitoneally to study the metabolism of high-molecular weight soluble (sRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) in their livers, which were removed at various time intervals ranging from 6 to 120 minutes after the injection. DNA and total RNA were extracted from each liver sample, and nucleic acids were fractionated with 2M NaCl into insoluble (high-molecular weight) and soluble (DNA and tRNA) fractions. All the preparations were analyzed by sucrose density gradient sedimentation, and the distribution of radioactivity was determined. Dietary-restricted progeny experienced significant increases of RNA (p