Abstract
Extract: Experiments were designed to ascertain and compare the effects of acetyl salicylate and actinomycin D on RNA synthesis in mouse oocytes in vitro and in vivo. After exposure to the drugs the effects on RNA synthesis were measured by incorporation of [3H]uridine and autoradiography. The results indicate that acetyl salicylate inhibits RNA synthesis in the treated oocytes as does actinomycin D. The only difference in the effects of these two drugs is that salicylate inhibits RNA synthesis to a much lesser degree than does actinomycin D. Effects from a short exposure to salicylate may be reversible; the same effects with actinomycin D cannot be reversed. In utero exposure of the female fetus may lead to partial or total sterility (depending on the dose and time of exposure) of that fetus and/or abnormal development of the progeny from those mice (F2).
These results suggest that RNA synthesis in early oogenesis is a vital part of later development of the oocytes in adult mouse ovary. Inhibition of RNA may be one of the causes of malformations and sterility.
Speculation: During early stages of development a species of RNA (known as masked messenger RNA) is synthesized by the oocyte nucleus and stored in the cytoplasm. After fertilization this RNA is utilized for the production of proteins necessary for the development of the embryo. If this RNA synthesis is inhibited by some agent (e.g., drugs) malformation or infertility could ensue in the female progeny.
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Mukherjee, A., Chan, M., Waite, R. et al. Inhibition of RNA Synthesis by Acetyl Salicylate and Actinomycin D during Early Development in the Mouse. Pediatr Res 9, 652–657 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00008
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00008