[Effect of castration on purine biosynthesis in the rat liver and kidney]

With the present study, the effects of testosterone deficiency on the biosynthesis of purine nucleotides and nucleic acids in rat liver and kidney has been investigated. 20% homogenates were prepared in 1 N HCl04, centrifuged and the nucleic acid were extracted from the precipitate with 0.7 N PCA (15 min at 90 degrees C): the acid-soluble purines were precipitated with 1 M AgNO3 from the supernatant of the centrifuged homogenate, then extracted with 1 M HC1. An increase of the specific activity of the liver (A, +49%; G, +47%) and of the kidney (A, +54%; G, +34%) has been observed (P less than 0.05), while no variation of the specific activity of nucleic acids was evident after castration.