Stability of RNA synthesized by the mouse oocyte during its major growth phase.

The RNA of growing mouse oocytes and ovulated ova was labeled by injection of a solution containing tritiated uridine into the ovarian bursa. The time course of incorporation into RNA by oocytes was followed by analysis of alkali-labile acid insoluble radioactivity and by autoradiography. The results show that most of the incorporation into RNA by growing oocytes takes place within one day of bursal injection of the precursor, reflecting the rapid fall of label in the acid soluble precursor pool. The RNA of growing oocytes of all sizes is unusually stable, at least 80% of the labeled RNA present two days after bursal injection being retained until ovulation 10 to 20 days later. The fraction of heterogeneous RNA in labeled RNA of ova was estimated as 20% by sucrose gradient analysis. It is likely that egg RNA is synthesized primarily during the period of oocyte growth one to three weeks before ovulation.