Effect of polypeptide hormones (insulin, thyrotropin, gonadotropin, adrenocorticotropin) on RNA synthesis in Tetrahymena, as assessed from incorporation of 3H-uridine.

Incorporation of 3H-uridine by RNA in Tetrahymena was differently influenced by insulin, glucagon, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyrotropic hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and chorion-gonadotropic hormone (PMSG). TSH caused it to increase considerably and durably after an initial depression, while glucagon caused it to rise over the control throughout. Insulin, and especially PMSG, depressed the incorporation of label considerably, the latter to 3-6% of the control value by 120 min. ACTH and FSH accounted for an initial depression of RNA synthesis which, however, returned to normal 30 min after treatment. Remarkably, while the chemically similar hormones acted differently, insulin and glucagon showed the same trend of positive and negative influence, respectively.