Abstract
Summary
Modest food deprivation results in decreased pancreatic RNA content as well as rates of synthesis. The rapidity of decrease in RNA content suggested that enhanced degradation may play a role. Measurements of free and total alkaline RNase activity showed 46 and 52% increases in alkaline RNase activity in pancreata of pigeons fasted 3 days compared to fed controls. In addition, there was a decrease in amounts of alkaline RNase-inhibitor activity. The data suggest reductions in pancreatic RNA content observed with fasting may be due, at least in part, to enhanced RNA degradation.
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