The effect of fasting and refeeding on total messenger ribonucleic acid content in the liver of chicks

1. The effect of 3-days fasting and the subsequent 3-days refeeding on total messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) content in the liver of chicks was investigated. 2. Body weight and liver weight were decreased by fasting, and were increased by refeeding to higher than initial values. 3. There was no influence of fasting and refeeding on RNA and mRNA contents per unit liver weight. 4. Total RNA content in the liver was decreased by fasting and was increased by refeeding to higher than the initial level. Fasting tended to reduce total mRNA content in the liver, and the following refeeding increased it significantly up to the initial level.