Ribonucleic acid synthesis in vitro in primary spermatocytes isolated from rat testis

The incorporation of (3)H]uridine into RNA was studied quantitatively (by incorporation of (3)H]uridine into acid-precipitable material) and qualitatively (by phenol extraction and electrophoretic separation of RNA in polyacrylamide gels) in preparations enriched in primary spermatocytes, obtained from testes of rats 26 or 32 days old. The rate of incorporation of (3)H]uridine into RNA of isolated spermatocytes was constant during the first 8h of incubation, after which it decreased, but the decreased rate of incorporation was not reflected in a marked change in electrophoretic profiles of labelled RNA. In isolated spermatocytes, (3)H]uridine was incorporated mainly into heterogeneous RNA with a low electrophoretic mobility. Most of this RNA was labile, as shown when further RNA synthesis was inhibited with actinomycin D. Spermatocytes in vivo also synthesized heterogeneous RNA with a low electrophoretic mobility. A low rate of incorporation of (3)H]uridine into rRNA of isolated spermatocytes was observed. The cleavage of 32S precursor rRNA to 28S rRNA was probably retarded in spermatocytes in vitro as well as in vivo. RNA synthesis by preparations enriched in early spermatids or Sertoli cells was qualitatatively different from RNA synthesis by the spermatocyte preparations. It is concluded that isolated primary spermatocytes maintain a specific pattern of RNA synthesis, which resembles RNA synthesis in spermatocytes in vivo. Therefore isolated spermatocytes of the rat can be used for studying the possible regulation of RNA synthesis during the meiotic prophase.