THE EFFECT OF PROTEIN DEFICIENCY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF NUCLEAR VOLUMES IN PREPARATIONS OF RAT LIVER NUCLEI

Abstract

The effect of a protein-deficient diet and the subsequent recovery period on the distribution of nuclear volumes has been studied. The results support the hypothesis that protein deficiency produces an increase in the proportion of polyploid-type nuclei in the liver as reflected in an increase in the average content of DNA per nucleus. This increase in polyploidy was shown to occur early in the experimental period, suggesting that it represents part of an adaptation mechanism more than a secondary effect produced by the deficiency of amino acids. Throughout the study, it was not possible to demonstrate any relationship between patterns of nuclear volume distribution or the average nuclear volume, and the average DNA content per nucleus. On this basis, it has been suggested that the nuclear volume might not be a unique function of the degree of ploidy, but most probably is an expression of the protein content of the organelle.