Date of Award

4-1980

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Charles Spilman

Second Advisor

Dr. George Gerritsen

Third Advisor

Dr. Leonard Ginsberg

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The binding characteristics of glucocorticoid receptors in the liver cytosol of Chinese hamsters of the BE, BD (diabetic), and AV (nondiabetic) lines were studied and compared using a charcoal adsorption technique and 3H-dexamethasone. High affinity receptors(Kd ≃ 3 x 10-9 M) were found with concentrations of 180 fmoles/mg protein in the nondiabetic and 260 fmoles/mg protein in the diabetic hamsters. Behavior of the receptor-steroid complex in 5 to 20% sucrose gradients of low and high salt concentrations (0.0 and 0.3 M KCl) and the competitive binding of other steroids were consistent with findings for rat liver glucocorticoid receptors.

Affinity, specificity and homogeneity under assay conditions were similar for glucocorticoid receptors of diabetic and nondiabetic hamsters. The 44% greater receptor concentration in diabetic hamsters was not statistically (p > 0.05) different from that in nondiabetic hamsters, but a trend was indicated. The importance of this trend relative to the diabetic state has not yet been determined.

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