Changes in chick brain RNA polymerase associated with an imprinting procedure.
The specific activity of RNA polymerase was measured in nuclei from 3 brain regions of 1-day-old chicks which had been exposed for different periods to either an imprinting stimulus or diffuse light and compared to that in birds kept in the dark. Several differences were observed, all of which were short-lived. After 15 min treatment there was a decrease in enzyme activity in the forebrain base of both stimulus- and diffuse light-exposed birds as compared to dark birds, which disappeared by 30 min treatment. After 30 min treatment there was increased activity of the enzyme in the forebrain roof of the stimulus-exposed as compared to both diffuse light-exposed and dark-maintained birds. There were no differences in activity in any region from 45 min up to 120 min of treatment. These changes in RNA polymerase activity were in general accord with the altered uracil incorporation into RNA measured in previous experiments where birds were exposed to 38 or 76 min of treatment, and also with our earlier report on RNA polymerase activity after 30 min treatment.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology; D002645:Chickens; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003624:Darkness; D007173:Imprinting, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000201:enzymology; D010775:Photic Stimulation
D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases