Dibutyryl adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate effects on goldfish behavior and brain RNA metabolism

Intraventricular administration of dibutyryl adenosine cyclic 3':5'-monophosphate into goldfish brains produced hyperactive animals. A study of the effects of the drug (25-50 mg/kg) on the incorporation of [5-(3)H] orotic acid, as a precursor of labeled uridine and cytidine, into newly synthesized RNA showed the formation of an RNA with a uridine to cytidine ratio 20-50% higher than that of the control. In double-labeling experiments with uridine as the labeled precursor, the synthesis of a nuclear RNA fraction (not produced in the absence of drug) was demonstrated. Some of this RNA was found to migrate into the cytoplasmic fraction and to become associated with polysomes. The results suggest that cyclic AMP might function as a "metabolic demand signal" for eliciting new RNA synthesis in goldfish brain.