Effect of ACTH and dexamethasone on the rate of protein and RNA degradation in rat adrenal glands.

Effects of ACTH and dexamethasone administration on the half-lives of protein and RNA of the subcellular fractions from rat adrenal glands were examined. A significant increase in the half-lives of protein and RNA in ACTH-treated animals and the rate of half-life elongation was apparently correlated with the degree of hypertrophy of the tissue. While, administration of dexamethasone or cortisol induced an acceleration of protein and RNA degradation and also in this case, the rate of degradation seemed to be correlated with the degree of tissue atrophy. From these results, it was concluded that the degradation process of protein and RNA may participate the role in hypertrophy and atrophy of the tissue.