RNA synthesis and processing in the gerbil brain after transient hindbrain ischaemia

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis was investigated in gerbils subjected to 15 min transient hindbrain ischaemia using [2-14C]uridine autoradiography. Distribution of synthesized RNA in the subcellular fraction of the tissue was detected by differential centrifugation and density gradient separation using Whittaker's method. In [2-14C]uridine autoradiography, uptake of the tracer into the RNA fraction was not reduced after transient ischaemia. Distributional analysis of [2-14C]uridine in the subcellular fractions revealed that tracer activity in the P3 (microsomes) fraction decreased in the ischaemic regions and tended to decrease in the P4 (ribosomes) fraction, although not significantly. Tracer activity in the P1 (nuclei and cell debris) and P2 (mitochondria, myelin and nerve ending particles) fractions did not decrease. These results indicate that RNA synthesis in the nuclei is not inhibited by ischaemia, but RNA processing is disturbed by the level of the transport. Modification of RNA synthesis and processing by transient ischaemia may influence protein synthesis.