The effect of oxotremorine on protein metabolism in the central nervous system studied by isotope incorporation into subcellular fractions

Abstract

The effect of oxotremorine upon the incorporation of³H-leucine into subcellular fractions has been investigated in two regions of the rat CNS, and a significant increase in protein synthesis has been demonstrated during the acute phase of oxotremorine-induced functional activity. The tissue concentration of free labelled amino acids was slightly decreased at this time thus eliminating an alteration in the free amino acid pool as a possible causative factor. There was no increase of isotope incorporation into liver proteins during the same period.

Repeated stimulation with this powerful tremorogenic drug did not change the turnover of proteins in the striatum or in the gray matter of the spinal cord.