A quantitative autoradiographic method for the measurement of local rates of brain protein synthesis

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Neurochem. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965123· OSTI ID:6584127

Dwyer, B E; Donatoni, P; Wasterlain, C G

We have developed a new method for measuring local rates of brain protein synthesis in vivo. It combines the intraperitoneal injection of a large dose of low specific activity amino acid with quantitative autoradiography. This method has several advantages: 1) It is ideally suited for young or small animals or where immobilizing an animal is undesirable. 2 The amino acid injection ''floods'' amino acid pools so that errors in estimating precursor specific activity, which is especially important in pathological conditions, are minimized. 3) The method provides for the use of a radioautographic internal standard in which valine incorporation is measured directly. Internal standards from experimental animals correct for tissue protein content and self-absorption of radiation in tissue sections which could vary under experimental conditions.

• Research Organization: Epilepsy Research Laboratory, V.A.M.C. Sepulveda, CA
• OSTI ID: 6584127
• Journal Information: Neurochem. Res.; (United States), Vol. 7:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BRAIN
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
PROTEINS
BIOSYNTHESIS
AMINO ACIDS
IN VIVO
INTRAPERITONEAL INJECTION
MEASURING METHODS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VALINE
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
INJECTION
INTAKE
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
SYNTHESIS
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques