Biology of Reproduction, Vol 15, 222-227, Copyright © 1976 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

The Effect of Experimental Cryptorchidism on Testicular DNA Polymerase Activities in the Mouse

¹ Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155

When subfractionated by aqueous techniques, mature mouse testes contain a low molecular weight DNA dependent DNA polymerase, DNA polymerase , in the nucleus and two distinguishable DNA-dependent DNA polymerases, DNA polymerase and a form of DNA polymerase , in the cytosol. These multiple DNA polymerase activities have been measured between 3 and 30 days after experimental cryptorchidism. The amount of DNA polymerase activity in the nucleus was significantly reduced 3 days after surgery and by 10 days was less than half of the activity found in the contralateral scrotum. No further decline was observed between 10 and 30 days after cryptorchidism. Although extreme variability prevented the determination of significant changes, the activity of the cytosol DNA polymerases appeared to be enhanced 3 to 10 days after surgery and decreased between 15 and 30 days. No systematic elevation or depression of the specific activities of the nuclear or cytoplasmic DNA polymerases was observed between 3 and 30 days after surgery although the enzyme levels did fluctuate. Chromatography of nuclear and cytosol extracts from 15 day cryptorchid testes revealed an elution profile qualitatively identical to mature testes.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to thank Ms. Donna Davidson and Ms. Janet Williams for their expert and dedicated assistance. This work was supported by NSF Grant GB-44237.