24‐hour variations in DNA of the liver in young and adult male mice

Abstract
Higher values of liver DNA content, determined with the diphenylamine reaction, are found in young and adult standardized male mice, during the activity (dark) period, than during the resting (light) period. The rise of DNA concentration, at the starting of the activity period coincide with a rise in DNA synthesis in hepatic and mesenchymal liver cells, measured with TH3 and autoradiography. Young mice have more DNA per g wet or dry liver and per 100 g body weight than adult mice. Adult mice have more DNA per liver than young mice but the difference is proportionally lower than the difference in the weight of the liver.