Corticosteroid receptors in liver cytosol of the clawed toad, Xenopus laevis: influence of thyroid and ovarian hormones.
The glucocorticoid receptor capacity Ro and the dissociation constant Kd were determined in the liver of Xenopus laevis by Scatchard analysis. In 5-year-old female toads Ro was about three times higher than that in males (153.9, 54.3 fmol/mg protein) and Kd was similar in both sexes (4.0, 4.1 nM). Some of the animals used had abnormal enlarged thyroid glands, atrophic ovaries, or both defects in connection with different levels of Ro, but not of Kd, compared to those of normal animals. Females with ovarian atrophy showed significantly lower Ro values, in the same range as in normal males, and a high liver weight. In male and female toads with enlarged thyroid glands and in animals with both defects a significantly higher Ro occurred compared to that of the corresponding group without this abnormality. To study the influence of thyroid hormones on glucocorticoid receptors, young toads (2-3 years old) received injections of 4-phenyl-2-thiouracil, T3, or T4 on 7 consecutive days. Ro and Kd were determined on the following day. Doses of 50 and 500 ng T3 and of 500 and 5000 ng T4 per gram of body weight and day resulted in an increase of Ro up to 250% of the controls. Injections of T3 were more efficient in males than in females. The effect of thyroxine was about the same in both sexes. These observations suggest that thyroid and ovarian hormones exert an influence on glucocorticoid receptor capacity and may belong to the factors which regulate glucocorticoid receptors.
Lange
C B
CB
Department of Zoology, University Karlsruhe, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hanke
W
W
Morishige
W K
WK
D000818:Animals; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013889:Thiouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013889:Thiouracil; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013974:Thyroxine