Circadian-stage dependent ACTH 1-17 effect on DNA synthesis in murine duodenum, colon and rectum

The objective was to determine the effect of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH 1-17) on the incorporation of [3H]TdR into DNA (DNA synthesis) in the duodenum, colon and rectum of CD2F1 mice standardised to 12 hr of light alternating with 12 hr of darkness. A question asked was whether the difference in times of administration along the 24-hr time scale influenced any response found. The response was complex as ACTH 1-17 was capable of bringing about statistically significant increases in the incorporation of [3H]TdR into DNA at certain times, decreases at other times, or no response at still another time. A generalization that can be made from all these tissues is that ACTH 1-17 had a greater influence in bringing about a decrease in DNA synthesis when it was administered around the time of transition from dark to light. A similar finding was made earlier for the ACTH 1-17 effect upon the tongue, esophagus and stomach. A 2- and 3-way analysis of variance supports our conclusion that the kind-of-treatment, time-of-treatment and the interval-to-kill (Sampling time) as well as their interactions are important factors when determining any response of ACTH 1-17 or placebo.