title: [Hormonal control of the expression of alpha fetoprotein in newborn rats. Evidence for a selective action of glucocorticoids on gene transcription].
abstract: Administration of glucocorticoid hormones to the newborn rat results in a rapid decrease in the synthesis of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) by the liver. The molecular basis of this hormonal action was investigated by examining the steady-state levels of AFP mRNA and albumin mRNA sequences in polysomal and total RNA preparations isolated from dexamethasone-treated and control animals. Following dexamethasone treatment the number of polysomal and total mRNA sequences hybridizable to specific (32P) cDNA probes was drastically decreased for AFP while it was unchanged for albumin. These data indicate that glucocorticoids exert a selective action on AFP mRNA levels and suggest that dexamethasone operate at the transcriptional level.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology*; D011132:Polyribosomes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D003907:Dexamethasone
vernacular_title: Contrôle hormonal de l'expression de l'alpha-foetoprotéine chez le rat nouveau-né. Evidence pour une action sélective des glucocorticoïdes au niveau de la transcription du gène.