Characterization of RNA synthesis in mid-pachytene spermatocytes of the rat

In this paper the RNA synthesis in mid-pachytene spermatocytes of the rat has been studied. The results show that RNA synthesized by these cells is mostly high molecular weight RNA comparable to HnRNA of somatic cells. In comparison with the rapid metabolism of HnRNA in somatic cells, HnRNA in pachytene spermatocytes is stable and remains in the nucleus for a considerable time. About 30% of this HnRNA contains a poly(A) sequence, although no difference in the rate of metabolism between poly(A)+ and poly(A)− RNA was observed. Based on these results it is suggested that at least a part of the RNA which is synthesized by pachytene spermatocytes is stored in the cells and utilized later during spermatogenesis when the RNA synthesis of the spermatids ceases, but protein synthesis is still active for about 2 weeks.