The purpose of the present study was to determine whether age affected
the rate of brain protein synthesis in rats. Experiments were conduct
ed on three groups of rats, ages 4, 7 or 24 wk. The fractional rates o
f protein synthesis in brain, liver and kidney decreased and the RNA c
oncentration (mg RNA/g protein) declined with age. In brain, liver and
kidney, the RNA concentrations were significantly correlated with the
fractional rates of protein synthesis. The RNA activity [g protein sy
nthesized/(g RNA.d)] was not related to the fractional rate of protein
synthesis in any organs except cerebral cortex. The results suggest t
hat the rate of protein synthesis in brain declines with age after wea
ning, and that RNA concentration is at least partly related to the fra
ctional rate of brain protein synthesis.