Incorporation of [6-3H] glucose into lipid, protein, RNA and DNA of slices of differentiating rat cerebral cortex

Abstract— An assay in vitro utilizing 6^?3H)glucose as precursor for synthesis of lipids, proteins, RNA and DNA was developed for incubated slices of rat cerebral cortex. The developmental changes in synthesis of macromolecules were followed during differentiation of rat cerebral cortex. The incorporation of glucose into lipids and proteins decreased 10-fold in incubated slices of cerebral cortex during progression from foetal to adult ages. In contrast, the specific radioactivities of RNA and DNA in incubated slices increased from the values at 3 days prepartum to peaks at 2–4 weeks postpartum.