Cytophotometric assessment of Feulgen-DNA and coomassie-total cell protein in adrenocortical fasciculata cells of noise-exposed Wistar rats.

The present investigation was undertaken to examine possible noise-induced alterations in adrenal fasciculata cell (AFC) metabolism, and also to determine if the magnitude of these changes differs in male versus female rats. Wistar rats approximately 3 months old were exposed to intense noise for 60 min (100 dB, re 2 x 10(-5) N(m2)-1, 350-20,000 Hz); control rats were housed under identical conditions, at an ambient noise level of 40-60 dB. Adrenal fasciculata cells (AFC) from each animal were examined for noise-induced alterations in Feulgen-DNA reactivity (as an indicator of chromatin template activity) and Coomassie-total cell protein levels using scanning-integrating cytophotometry.