Estrogen treatment and its influence on protein synthesis and amino acid metabolism in Zoarces viviparus (L) males.

Overall protein synthesis was studied in estradiol-treated and control Zoarces viviparus males. Significant increases in total RNA, the RNA:DNA and the RNA:protein ratios in the liver were correlated with a 6-fold increase in total calcium levels in the plasma, indicating increased protein synthetic activity and the presence of circulating vitellogenin respectively in the induced males. The time-course incorporation of (14)C-phenylalanine into protein in a cell free liver system showed a linear increase during the first 30 min after poly (U) was added to the incubation medium in control as well as in the estradiol-treated males. The incorporation rate in the induced liver, however, was increased significantly above the level of the control livers. Estradiol-treatment altered the concentration of most amino acids in the plasma and a few in the liver with particular marked effects on alanine and tyrosine in the plasma and glutamate in the liver.