Effect of ischemia on the activity of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase and DNA polymerase.

Ischemia, anoxia, and hypoxia of the brain have been shown to inhibit protein synthesis in the central nervous system. To obtain data on the changes in DNA-dependent RNA and DNA polymerase as they pertain specifically to neurons and glia, nuclear enriched neuronal and glial fractions were prepared, by sucrose-gradient centrifugation, from spinal cords of adult dogs that had been subjected to prolonged ischemia. The isolated fractions were assayed for enzyme activity by a radiochemical technique. RNA polymerase was affected more than DNA polymerase, activity being reduced considerably in both neurons and glia. Possible causes of the difference in sensitivity to ischemia are discussed.