Protamine-precipitated estrogen receptor: a solid-phase ligand exchange assay

Estrogen Receptors in Colorectal Adenocarcinomas and in Other Large Bowel Diseases

Seventy-two patients with tumor and ten with non-neoplastic colon disease were studied for the presence of estrogen receptors (ER) by three different methods. Only seven specimens (six primary adenocarcinomas and one recurrent cancer) had an ER concentration above 3 fm/mg of cytosolic protein, with no sex, age and tumor stage correlation. Our results suggest that the large bowel does not contain a cytosolic receptor for estradiol.

Gel-filtration chromatographic method for determining relative binding affinities: rat hepatic estrogen receptor as an example system

We report a gel-filtration-based chromatographic method for separation of specific, nonspecific, and free radioligand in a protein receptor-ligand binding assay for the example of the estrogen receptor ERalpha. This assay affords relative binding affinities (RBAs) without the need for a separate determination of nonspecific binding. The probit method is recommended as the most satisfactory method of evaluating the data. The assay responds to both estrogen agonists and antagonists, mixtures respond additively, and the slopes of the probit plots indicate that all ligands bind to the same site on the estrogen receptor. RBAs obtained with rat and rainbow trout ERalpha were in good agreement, and also with those from other reported assays, consistent with the interspecies conservation of key regions of the ligand binding domain among estrogen receptors.

In vitro labeling of gonadal steroid hormone receptors in brain tissue sections

Autoradiographic methods have been developed for measurement of gonadal steroid receptors in situ in brain tissue sections. Based on principles established previously for estrogen receptors in the rat brain using a 125I-labeled ligand, procedures have been developed for in vitro labeling of estrogen, androgen, and progestin receptors with commercially available tritiated ligands. Addition of protamine sulfate to the incubation buffer precipitates the receptors in situ in the tissue sections, allowing them to be detected autoradiographically after incubation with labeled steroid and subsequent washing to remove unbound and nonspecifically bound ligand. Occupied and unoccupied estrogen receptors can be measured selectively using appropriately modified incubation conditions. In the case of androgen and progestin receptors, unoccupied receptors are readily detected by in vitro labeling of tissue sections, but occupied receptors do not appear to label efficiently. Preliminary data suggest that these methods should be equally applicable to a variety of laboratory animals, including the rat, mouse, guinea pig, and monkey.

Protein purification using a soluble affinity matrix: purification of estrogen receptor with estradiol-polylysine conjugate

A new strategy for protein purification using a soluble affinity matrix is described. The method was used for purification of estrogen receptor. Cytosols from rat uteri and human fibroid uterine tissue, after fractionation by ammonium sulfate, were treated with estradiol-polylysine conjugate. The highly basic affinity complex was separated from other proteins by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. After dissociation of the eluted complex with excess estradiol, the receptor was recovered by CM-Sephadex chromatography. A 2000-fold purification of the rat uterine estrogen receptor was obtained with an activity recovery of 35%.

A rapid method for the quantitation of estrogen receptors in small amounts of tissue

A rapid and highly reproducible protocol which permits the detection of quantities of estrogen receptor as low as 5 fmol/mg protein is described. The separation of free and receptor-bound hormone is achieved by specific immunoprecipitation of the hormone-receptor complex. This procedure can be performed without perturbing the equilibrium of the binding reaction.

Binding of estradiol-peroxidase conjugate to estrogen receptor

The binding of estradiol-horseradish peroxidase conjugate to rat uterine cytosolic estrogen receptor was studied. The conjugate having a steroid to enzyme ratio of 2.8:1 was allowed to bind to protamine precipitated receptor in presence or absence of 100-fold excess of free estradiol. The bound enzyme activity was measured and the data subjected to Scatchard analysis to obtain the dissociation constant and the number of binding sites. Although the binding parameter so obtained differed from values obtained using radiolabelled estradiol, the method may be used for comparative studies.

Estrogen and progesterone receptor determinations in breast cancer. Technology, biology and clinical significance

Our present state of knowledge regarding estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PgR) has led to changes in treatment strategies: patients without receptors in their tumor tissues cannot be expected to respond to endocrine therapy. Furthermore, groups of patients with specifically good or poor prognoses can be selected. Treatment of the disease now approaches being of a rational rather than of an empirical nature. However, it is imperative that we achieve a considerably higher level of understanding before we can predict, with high probabilities, which patients will benefit from endocrine therapy. Only through a coordinated effort by many centers can we hope to attain this goal. In such collaborations there are several factors that must be taken into consideration if reproducible conclusions are to be reached: a) sampling of the tumor biopsy for analysis, b) potential differences in assay procedures which may affect results, and c) the composition of the population studied. Since the traditionally used ligand binding assay (dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) method) is highly sensitive even to slight modifications in assay procedure, intra- and interlaboratory standardization of receptor analyses is challenging. Accordingly, correlations between receptor status and/or concentrations and the clinical course of the disease from different centers often demonstrate discrepant results. With the greater reproducibility and sensitivity of the newly developed immunoenzymometric assay (IEMA) methods, many of these problems might be solved in the future and inter-center clinical studies will thus be facilitated. In the national Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) project, approximately 90% of all patients with primary breast cancer are registered. Estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PgR) determinations have been performed on tumor tissue from approximately 30% of these patients in one single laboratory. The results of these analyses are presented here for approximately 4,000 patients in relation to age, menopausal status, tumor size, grade of anaplasia, and lymph node involvement. Biologically and clinically there appear to be three fundamental types of tumor tissues; hormone responsive (ER+PgR+ and ER-PgR+), hormone non-responsive (ER-PgR-), and tissues of a more dubious hormone responsive nature (ER+PgR-), which occur predominantly among postmenopausal patients. Several lines of evidence indicate that among the postmenopausal patients there may be an estrogen binding molecule similar to but distinct from the normal, physiologically functioning ER molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Interaction of glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver with protamine and arginine

The nontransformed glucocorticoid receptor (GR) from rat liver was found to bind to protamine-Sepharose and could be recovered by a salt gradient without a change in molecular configuration. The nontransformed GR also bound to arginine-Sepharose, but the transformed GR did not bind to either resin. Ligand-free GR interacted with both resins and was eluted without loss of its steroid binding ability. The bindings of GR to protamine- and arginine-Sepharose were saturable. The apparent dissociation constants of GR on protamine-Sepharose varied from 0.34 nM (-molybdate) to 0.68 nM (+ 10 mM molybdate) and those on arginine-Sepharose were 1.99 nM (-molybdate) and 0.65 nM (+ 10mM molybdate), respectively. The maximum binding capacity was achieved by arginine-Sepharose in the absence of molybdate. Higher salt concentrations (0.5 M NaCl) were required to elute GR from protamine-Sepharose than from arginine-Sepharose (approx 0.03 M NaCl). However, the effectiveness of several salts for the elution of GR was consistent in both resins as follows; MgCl2 = CaCl2 = Na2WO4 greater than (NH4)2SO4 = Na2MoO4 greater than arginine-HCl greater than lysine-HCl greater than KCI = NaCl. These results suggest that GR interacts with arginine residues in protamine. Chromatography using these resins resulted in 7-10-fold purification of occupied and unoccupied nontransformed GRs.

Steroid-bovine serum albumin conjugates: molecular characterization and their interaction with androgen and estrogen receptors

Conjugates of testosterone-3-carboxymethyloxime (T-3-CMO), testosterone-17-hemisuccinate (T-17-HS), 17 beta-estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime (E-6-CMO), or 17 beta-estradiol-17-hemisuccinate (E-17-HS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) with varying steroid:protein ratios were prepared using the mixed anhydride method. Dialysis followed by molecular filtration yielded monomer steroid-BSA conjugates with a molecular weight of 70,000 dalton, and polymer conjugates with molecular weights of 140,000 dalton and higher. When conjugates were prepared with increasing initial steroid:BSA molar ratios the ratio of the obtained conjugates increased, in parallel with a decrease in the relative amount of monomers and an increase in the mean molecular size of polymers. The molecular properties of these conjugates were studied further by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in native and denaturing conditions. In native PAGE the monomer fractions showed one main band with a mobility slightly lower than BSA and a faint band corresponding with BSA-dimers. The polymer fractions consisted of a heterogeneous population of protein oligomers with molecular weights varying from 140,000 to over a million dalton. In the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate part of the polymers dissociated into monomers. In buffered aqueous solutions the bulk of the conjugate preparation retained its molecular size and composition, although the generated covalent bonds were found to be liable to spontaneous hydrolysis. Steroid-protein conjugates were shown to contain appreciable amounts of non protein-bound steroids. Binding of T-BSA to androgen receptors in rat ventral prostate cytosol was assayed using LH-20 chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis. Binding of E-BSA to estrogen receptors was analysed with rat uterus cytosol using the dextran coated charcoal assay and the sucrose gradient centrifugation technique. Relative binding affinities (RBA) were analyzed in competition experiments using radiolabeled ligands. It was found that the molecular size of the conjugate does not influence its interaction with steroid receptors. Steroid coupled via the 17-position show a higher RBA to receptors than the T-3 or E-6 derivatives. The RBA of T-3-BSA, T-3-CMO, T-17-BSA and T-17-HS appeared to be very low, i.e. between 0.1 and 1.7% of the RBA of dihydrotestosterone. Consequently, high concentrations of conjugate are required to saturate androgen receptor binding sites. Under these conditions involvement of type II and eventually type III binding sites, which show less ligand specificity and lower affinity, may be anticipated preventing exclusive detection of androgen receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Changes in endonuclease activity during growth and regression of the Shionogi mammary carcinoma

Autodigestion of nuclei isolated from the androgen-dependent Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma revealed the presence of endogenous endonuclease activity which was stimulated by Ca2+ and Mg2+ and generated a repeating pattern of DNA fragments with an average monomeric size of 179 base pairs. The nuclear concentration of endonuclease activity declined rapidly after castration to a level 45% of that measured in tumours from non-castrated hosts. Most of the endonuclease activity (80%) could be extracted in a soluble form after sonication of the nuclei and subsequent centrifugation. The reduced concentration of endonuclease activity in regressing tumours following castration was not due to changes in chromatin template conformation and could be restored to normal levels within 1 day of androgen treatment. Examination of DNA synthetic activity and the concentration of nuclear androgen receptors during tumour regression indicated that the decrease in endonuclease activity paralleled the declining rate of DNA synthesis but was preceded by a loss of nuclear androgen receptors. Together these results suggest that the endonuclease activity of the Shionogi carcinoma is more likely involved with androgen-stimulated cell proliferation rather than with the autophagic mechanism responsible for tumour regression and cell death.

Effect of estriol, estriol-3-sulfate and estriol-17-sulfate on progesterone and estrogen receptors of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

The levels of progesterone receptors (PR [cytosol (Cy) and nuclear (N)] and estrogen receptors (ER) [cytosol and nuclear; occupied and unoccupied specific binding sites] were evaluated in the MCF-7 cancer cell line incubated with estriol (E3), estriol-3-sulfate (E3-3-S) or estriol-17-sulfate (E3-17-S) for 7 days in culture. Cells were grown in MEM medium containing 2 mM glutamine, 10% v/v dialysed calf serum and penicillin-streptomycin (100 U/ml) in the absence (control) or in the presence of 5 X 10(-8) M E3, E3-3-S or E3-17-S. The total PR (Cy + N) concentration which was 0.47 +/- 0.10 (SE) pmol/mg DNA in the non-treated cells, increased to 1.95 +/- 0.48 in the E3 and to 1.55 +/- 0.26 in the E3-3-S treated cells. No effect (PR: 0.47 +/- 0.15 pmol/mg DNA) was observed with the E3-17-S treatment. Total ER (Cy + N, occupied + unoccupied binding sites) in pmol/mg DNA +/- SE, were as follows: control 0.79 +/- 0.17; + E3: 0.33 +/- 0.09; +E3-3-S: 0.90 +/- 0.18 and +E3-17-S: 1.82 +/- 0.58. The measurement by radioimmunoassay of unconjugated estriol in the culture medium indicated that after incubation with E3-3-S, a fraction (0.5-1%) of the sulfate was hydrolyzed but no hydrolysis was observed in the incubations with E3-17-S. It is concluded that in the MCF-7 human mammary cancer cell line E3 and E3-3-S stimulate PR very significantly, but it is suggested that E3-3-S acts through the hydrolyzed E3. On the other hand, E3-17-S is inactive because it is not hydrolyzed. Consequently, E3-3-S can play an important role in the biological responses of this mammary cancer cell line.

Progesterone control of nuclear estrogen receptor: demonstration in hamster uterus during the estrous cycle and pseudopregnancy using a new exchange assay

Our previous studies showed that total nuclear estrogen receptor (Re) can be extracted and measured by exchange using 10 mM pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP) at low temperature (0-4 degrees C). In order to further validate the PLP assay, we measured the Re concentration in uterine cytosol and nuclei by this method under physiological conditions, i.e. during the hamster estrous cycle and pseudopregnancy. In addition, we compared the Re results obtained by the PLP method with those obtained with two other assay procedures, i.e. the KCl and NaSCN methods. During the follicular phase of the estrous cycle, all three methods showed an elevation of nuclear Re in parallel with the increase in serum estradiol (E). However, the quantity of nuclear Re obtained with the PLP method was significantly greater than with the KCl method during the follicular phase. The surge of serum progesterone (P) during the ovulatory phase of the estrous cycle was followed by a dramatic fall in nuclear Re, and the greatest loss of nuclear Re during the ovulatory phase of the cycle was detected with the PLP and NaSCN methods. On a DNA basis, cytosol Re increased significantly between Day 3 and proestrus and subsequently fell during the ovulatory phase of the cycle. P treatment of proestrus hamsters resulted in a rapid (less than 4 h) loss of nuclear Re with little or no change in cytosol Re. Chronic P exposure during pseudopregnancy with serum E maintenance, resulted in a significant suppression of both cytosol and nuclear Re. Following P withdrawal, both cytosol and nuclear Re rose significantly (less than 4 h), indicating that this effect of P was readily reversible. The results demonstrate that the Re detected under physiological conditions by the PLP method responds to both E action and P action, and that the PLP assay provides a greater recovery of Re as compared to the KCl assay.

Changes of oestrogen receptor levels in Leydig cells from mice and rats during culture

Two functional properties of Leydig cells in culture, i.e. LH-stimulated steroidogenesis and nuclear oestrogen receptor levels have been investigated. Leydig cells isolated from testes of immature rats and mature mice maintained their responsiveness to LH during 48-72 h of cell culture, although the mouse Leydig cells appeared to be less responsive to LH after 72 h of culture. In contrast, nuclear oestrogen receptor levels in both types of Leydig cells declined to 10-20% of the initial value after 24 h in culture. In the 48-72 h culture period nuclear oestrogen receptor levels recovered to 75% of the initial value only in Leydig cells from immature rats, whereas the nuclear oestrogen receptor levels in Leydig cells from mature mice remained low. These data demonstrate that during in vitro culture of Leydig cells, preservation of LH responsiveness does not necessarily warrant that other Leydig cell parameters e.g. nuclear oestrogen receptors also remain unaltered.

Effect of hormones on growth and ATP content of a human prostatic carcinoma cell line, LNCaP-r

The use of ATP content as a measurement for cell growth was evaluated in the LNCaP prostatic cancer cell line. ATP content was found to correlate well with cell counts and was an easy and reliable method for following the effect of substances on cell growth. During cultivation for 9 days no effect on cell counts or ATP content could be seen when testosterone (10(-10) to 10(-6) M), estradiol-17 beta (10(-10) to 10(-5) M), 5 alpha-DHT (10(-9) to 10(-6) M), prolactin, vitamin A, or antiandrogen was added to the cell medium in different combinations. However, a weak positive effect was seen on the mitotic index when 10 or 100 nM 5 alpha-DHT was added to the cells, whereas 1 microM 5 alpha-DHT inhibited cell growth. Thus despite the fact that this LNCaP line contained 16 fmol androgen receptor/mg protein (Kd 0.6 nM), it is unresponsive to hormones and should be designated LNCaP-r (resistant). Chromosome analysis revealed that a shift in the modal chromosome number had occurred from the original LNCaP line, which could account for the lack of hormonal sensitivity.

Protamine sulfate precipitation: a new assay for the Ah receptor

The ability of protamine sulfate to effect the quantitative precipitation of 2,3,7,8-[3H]tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD):Ah receptor complexes from rat liver cytosol has been developed into a new assay for the identification, quantitation, and characterization of the Ah receptor. The method is reliable, uncomplicated, and rapid, and can be applied to large numbers of samples. The major advantage of the assay is that protamine sulfate appears to selectively precipitate the Ah receptor protein and does not precipitate a number of other proteins that bind [3H]TCDD nonspecifically.

Fluorescent ligands, used in histocytochemistry, do not discriminate between estrogen receptor-positive and receptor-negative human tumor cell lines

A cell line containing estrogen receptors (MCF-7) and a cell line lacking estrogen receptors (PC-93) were used for a comparison of biochemical and histochemical procedures to detect estrogen receptors. We evaluated three different fluorescent estrogen derivatives: 17 beta-estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime-bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate, 17 beta-estradiol-17-hemisuccinate-fluoresceinamine, and coumestrol. The main results were: The relative binding affinities of these ligands for the estrogen receptor were between 0.1 and 2% of the affinity of estradiol. Fluorescent staining of the cells showed no relation to the presence of estrogen receptors. Staining was not suppressed with excess estradiol-17 beta, which is known to prevent binding of low affinity ligands to estrogen receptors. Cells with intact membranes were not stained after treatment with the albumin-linked estrogen derivative; only cells with damaged cell membranes were stained. Treatment of cells with 17 beta-estradiol-17-hemisuccinate-fluoresceinamine resulted in a fluorescent labeling of the cytoplasm in intact and artificially damaged cells. Coumestrol caused only fluorescence of the cytoplasm in intact cells. It is concluded that estrogen receptors cannot be detected with these low affinity ligands. Fluorescence of these cells is probably due to binding of the ligands to low affinity binding sites. The presence of these low affinity binding sites appears not to be related to the presence or absence of estrogen receptors and can therefore not be used to discriminate between estrogen receptor-positive and receptor-negative tumor cells.

Nuclear binding of cortisol in intestinal mucosa and liver of a teleost fish (Salmo gairdnerii irideus)

Nuclear binding of corticosteroids in fish tissues was investigated in two target organs of the trout Salmo gairdnerii irideus: the liver and the intestinal mucosa. Incubation of intact nuclei with [3H]-cortisol or [3H]-dexamethasone failed to demonstrate high-affinity binding of these steroids to proteins. Exchange assay of [3H]-cortisol in high-salt nuclear extracts indicated an association constant Ka = 1.9 X 10(4) M-1 for intestinal mucosa and 2.1 X 10(4) M-1 for liver. In sea water-adapted trout, the association constant remained the same as in fresh water. These results extend previous observations obtained on the cytosol which showed that no high-affinity receptors could be disclosed in fish tissues using these two corticosteroids.

Fluorescent androgen derivatives do not discriminate between androgen receptor-positive and -negative human tumor cell lines

For the evaluation of histochemical procedures for detection of androgen receptors, three human tumor cell lines have been used: PC-93 and NHIK-3025, both biochemically characterized as androgen receptor-positive, and EB-33, biochemically characterized as androgen receptor-negative. The binding of three fluorescent ligands, testosterone-17 beta-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate, testosterone-17 beta-hemisuccinate-fluoresceinamine, and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone-17 beta-hemisuccinate-fluoresceinamine, to the cells was evaluated. The relative binding affinities of the ligands for the androgen receptors were low (less than 5% when compared to methyltrienolone). Treatment of the cells with the androgen-fluoresceinamine derivatives resulted in a fluorescent labeling of the cytoplasm in both intact and "freeze-damaged" cells of the three cell lines. This staining was independent of the presence of receptors. Nuclei were not stained. Incubation of intact cels with the protein-linked conjugate did not result in significant cellular fluorescence. Only cells with damaged membranes showed a positive histochemical reaction, both in nucleus and cytoplasm, irrespective of the receptor content of the cells. The fluorescence intensity was not suppressed with excess 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone or methyltrienolone, which are known to prevent binding of low affinity ligands to androgen receptors. From these results it is concluded that androgen receptors cannot be detected by these fluorescent ligands with low affinity for the receptor. The observed fluorescence of the cells is therefore due to binding of the ligands to other binding sites. The visualization/histochemical demonstration of these binding sites does not appear to be related to the presence of androgen receptors.

Bile acid receptors in colorectal cancer

Bile acids are thought to be involved in both the aetiology and development of colorectal cancer. In this study the existence of specific bile acid receptor proteins has been postulated. A receptor assay which involved labelling with 14C-deoxycholic acid was performed as well as autoradiography using 3H-deoxycholic acid. In an initial study resected colorectal cancer and adjacent histologically normal colorectal mucosa from 39 patients were studied, as were samples of normal gastric mucosa, cancers and benign colorectal tumours. Specific receptors to deoxycholic acid were detected in 12 (30.8 per cent) of the colorectal cancers, but in only 1 (2.6 per cent) of the samples from normal colorectal mucosa (X2 = 11.16, P less than 0.005). No deoxycholic acid receptors were detected in any other tissue studied. Autoradiographs of colorectal cancers showed binding of 3H-deoxycholic acid in receptor-positive tumour tissue. These findings might provide some explanation for the evidence linking bile acids with the disease.

Variation of cytoplasmic rat uterine androgen receptors

The number of testosterone binding sites present in rat uterine cytosol varied regularly during the estrous cycle, reaching a trough at metestrus and a peak at proestrus. Treating ovariectomized and adrenalectomized rats for 2 days with estradiol resulted in a 3-4-fold increase in the number of binding sites per uterus. Estradiol withdrawal induced a decrease in uterine androgen receptors. Testosterone or progesterone treatment also increased the number of these sites, but to a lesser degree. When administered together with estradiol, testosterone did not enhance the stimulatory effect of the latter, whereas progesterone even reduced it. Testosterone or progesterone did not prevent the number of receptors from declining after estradiol withdrawal. Thus the changes in the number of cytoplasmic androgen receptors in the uterus during the rat estrous cycle is mainly controlled by the rise and fall of the serum levels of estradiol.

Concentration of endogenous oestradiol as related to oestradiol receptor sites in breast tumor cytosol

Biopsies or mastectomy specimens from 69 malignant and 17 non-malignant human breast tumours have been examined with respect to cytoplasmic oestradiol receptors and endogenous oestradiol concentration. Of the malignant tumours, 45 (65%) had significant oestradiol receptor concentrations (136.7 fmol/mg protein +/- 38.3 S.E.M.). Oestradiol values in the cytosol were not correlated to receptor levels. Cytosol oestradiol concentrations in the receptor-negative tumours were normally distributed about a mean value of 7.4 fmol/mg protein +/- 0.9 (S.E.M.). Oestradiol levels were similar to the median concentration of receptor found in tumours from younger women, and consequently may influence receptor measurements in such tumours. In receptor-positive cytosols a much wider range (less than 1 to 69.7 fmol/mg protein) and a non-symmetrical distribution of oestradiol values were found which closely corresponded to the range of occupied receptor concentrations previously measured in tumour cytosol. When tumours having undetectable oestradiol values were excluded, receptor-positive cytosols had significantly higher oestradiol concentrations than those found in receptor-negative tumours (P less than 0.01). No significant difference in cytosol oestradiol concentration was found in receptor-positive and negative pre- and postmenopausal women. This would indicate that factors other than plasma levels influence tissue availability of oestradiol.

Towards a new model for the mechanism of action of steroids

The classical model for the mechanisms of action of steroids holds that unbound receptors for steroids reside exclusively in the cytoplasmic compartment and that they undergo translocation to the nucleus when bound to steroids in a process which is temperature sensitive. In the present study we looked at the localization of the estradiol receptor using autoradiography and biochemical procedures. Uteri from ovariectomized, and/or ovariectomized-adrenalectomized rats, as well as several cell lines [with estrogen receptors (ER+)] were incubated with [3H]-estradiol or [3H]-R2858 (methoxy-17-ethinylestradiol) for 5 min to 2 h at different concentrations of ligands (0.1-10 nM) at 4 degrees C. When the tissue or cells were processed for autoradiography the localization of steroid was nuclear and cytoplasmic. In contrast when the tissue or cells were processed using the usual biochemical procedures, all binding activity appeared in the cytosolic fraction. In addition, when concentrated preparations of homogenized uteri as well as several nuclear preparation from cell lines were made, free receptor could be demonstrated in the crude nuclear preparations. In the present study, data are presented which suggest that there are unbound receptors for estrogen in nuclei of the smooth muscle cells of myometrium as well as in nuclei of the several cell lines (ER+). We propose a new model for the distribution of estrogen receptors in which unbound receptors are in equilibrium, partitioned between nucleus and cytoplasm according to the free water content of these intracellular compartments.

Modulation of estrogen-induced peroxidase activity in the rat uterus by thyroid hormones

The effect of thyroid hormones, iodide, propylthiouracil and other thyroid-active agents on estrogen receptor concentration and on the induction of peroxidase in the immature rat uterus by estradiol (E2) was examined T3 (0.5 mg/Kg) given daily for 6 days produced a large decrease in E2-induced uterine peroxidase but lowered only slightly the concentration of cytosolic or nuclear receptors in this organ. T4 also decreased the effect of E2 on uterine peroxidase induction and the inhibitory action of T3 was observed in thyroidectomized rats. The administration of iodide (10 mM) in the drinking water for 6 days caused a 2-fold increase in estrogen-induced peroxidase in both normal and thyroidectomized immature animals without influencing the estrogen receptor concentration in the uterus. The effect of other thyroid-active agents on serum T3 and T4 levels was also determined. Treatment for 6 days with propylthiouracil (6 mM) increased the concentration of estrogen receptors in the uterus and decreased serum T3 and T4 levels without any effect on uterine peroxidase activity while bromide and perchlorate did not influence these parameters. Possible mechanisms for the inhibitory effects of thyroid hormones on uterine peroxidase induction by E2 are discussed.

hCG-induced inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis: an oestradiol-mediated process?

Single i.v. injections of hCG (10 U) in adult male rats resulted, within 24 h, in a 2-fold decrease in the maximal LH-stimulated testosterone production in vitro, while pregnenolone production was not changed. In addition to the changes in steroidogenesis, a concomitant depletion of the oestradiol-cytosol receptor was observed. In contrast with the observations after 24 h, a 2-fold increase in both testosterone and pregnenolone production was observed at 72 h after a single i.v. injection of hCG (10 U). At 72 h after the hCG treatment, oestradiol-cytosol receptor levels were not different from values observed after injection of saline. Tamoxifen administration (50-500 microgram s.c. injections) resulted, within 24 h, in depletion of oestradiol-cytosol receptor levels. This decrease of oestradiol binding, however, was not paralleled by decreases in testosterone production. Simultaneous administration of tamoxifen and hCG did not prevent the hCG-induced inhibition of testosterone production observed 24 h after administration of hCG. It is concluded that the present results offer no proof for an obligatory role of the oestradiol receptor in gonadotropin-induced inhibition of testosterone production in testicular Leydig cells.

Extraction of nuclear androgen receptors from rat prostate with different reagents

After in vitro labelling of androgen receptors in prostate tissue from castrated rats, about 70% of the labelled androgens in nuclei could be extracted with buffer solutions with 0.4 M KCl, or 10 mM pyridoxal phosphate, or 0.4 mM Cibacron blue, or heparin (0.2 mg/ml). In the nuclear extracts, 60-80% of the steroid was recovered as steroid-receptor complex. Sedimentation values of the receptors, on sucrose gradients containing 0.4 M KCl, were 3-4 S for the KCl extract and 4-5 S for pyridoxal phosphate and heparin extracts. The Cibacron blue extract contained an aggregated form of the receptor (5-7 S). The presence of the protease inhibitor di-isopropylfluorophosphate during isolation caused a small increase in S value of the receptors. However, the differences in sedimentation values between KCl, pyridoxal phosphate and heparin extracts remained. The receptors in the KCl extracts could be precipitated with protamine sulphate only after addition of 10 mM pyridoxal phosphate to the extracts. On the basis of these results it is concluded that the androgen receptors in rat prostate can be effectively extracted from nuclei by certain reagents which have in common a strongly negatively charged group and a less polar or hydrophobic region. These reagents form complexes with nuclear receptors and influence the sedimentation values and precipitability with protamine sulphate of these receptors.

The changing estrogen content of the nuclear fraction of human myometrium during labor

The cytosol and nuclear fractions were prepared from 32 pieces of myometrium obtained from 20 elective cesarean sections (regarded as typical of quiescent pregnancy (P)) and 12 emergency cesareans (performed after labor had started and therefore taken as typical of labor (L)). The nuclear fraction was purified by standard procedures. All protein-bound estrogen was released from the nuclear fractions, and the released estrogen simultaneously solubilized by denaturation with ethanol. The estriol (E3) and estradiol (E2) content of the alcohol solutions were assayed by radioimmunoassay with highly specific antisera for E3 and E2. In the L group, average E3 content was slightly (not significantly) lower, and average E2 content was significantly (P less than 0.005) higher, than in the P group. The E3/E2 ratio decreased dramatically (P less than 0.001) during this change from P to L.

Detection of estrogen receptor in breast and endometrial carcinoma by the immunoperoxidase technique

Paraffin-embedded tissues from 15 women with breast or endometrial carcinomas were analyzed in a study designed to explore the possible value and validity of an immunoperoxidase method for the detection of estrogen receptor in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue. Results were compared with biochemical assays for estrogen receptor performed on cytosols of fresh tissue from the same patients. There was complete correlation in nine of 15 (60%) of the tumors analyzed. Four cases (26.7%) were judged positive for estrogen binding sites by immunoperoxidase but were negative for estrogen receptor by biochemical assays; in two cases the converse was observed. The immunohistologic technique is relatively rapid and utilizes fixed paraffin sections of the same tissue that is used for standard histologic diagnosis. The provision of a permanent record that can be kept for future reference provides an advantage over immunofluorescence methods that have been advanced for the detection of estrogen receptors. The excellent morphology achieved permits an assessment of the staining of individual cells in relation to the usual histologic criteria employed in the diagnosis of breast and endometrial cancer. This stands in contrast to biochemical cytosol-based assays that take no account of variations in receptor expression by the tumor cells or variations in the proportion of the assayed material that is in fact neoplastic as distinct from supporting stroma and connective tissue.

Assessment of estrogen receptor--histone interactions

Several different in vitro binding assays show that the estrogen receptor from rabbit uterus interacts selectively with purified histones from calf thymus. The estrogen receptor binds strongly to histones H2B and H2A, moderately to histones H3 and H4, and poorly to histone H1. In the presence of histones H2B or H2A, the position at which the estrogen receptor focuses in an isoelectric gradient is shifted to a more basic zone. Kinetic experiments show that, if histone H2B is bound to a DNA, the estrogen receptor dissociates more slowly from that DNA. The portion of the estrogen receptor molecule required for binding to histone H2B is relatively stable to tryptic digestion; in contrast, the portion of the receptor molecule responsible for DNA binding is promptly lost during limited tryptic digestion. These in vitro findings suggest that the mechanism by which the estrogen receptor selectively alters gene expression may involve specific contacts with histone molecules.

Nuclear androgen receptors in human prostatic tissue. Extraction with heparin and estimation of the number of binding sites with different methods

A procedure for the estimation of nuclear androgen receptors in benign prostatic hyperplastic tissue is described, which employs extraction of receptors from nuclei with buffers containing heparin. Extraction of a nuclear pellet with a heparin-containing (1 g/l) buffer appeared to have definite advantages over 0.4 mol/l KCl extraction. Heparin appeared to be twice as efficient in extracting androgen receptors. In addition aggregated receptor proteins, formed after storage at -80 degrees C, were partly deaggregated by heparin. Specific isolation of the androgen receptor was performed using either agar gel electrophoresis, protamine sulphate precipitation or LH-20 gel filtration. A comparison was made between the amounts of estimated receptors with these different techniques. Protamine sulphate precipitation resulted in the highest estimates of receptor-bound 5 alpha-[3H]dihydrotestosterone (3H-DHT). Treatment of the labelled nuclear extracts with a charcoal suspension prior to the receptor assay resulted in lower amounts of estimated androgen receptors. A method for routine evaluation of nuclear androgen receptors in prostatic tissue has been evaluated, which involves extraction of nuclear pellets with a heparin-containing (1 g/l) buffer, exchange labelling of the nuclear extracts for 20 h at 10 degrees C and quantification of the receptors with protamine sulphate precipitation.

Inhibition of nucleic acid and chromatin binding of the rat prostate androgen receptor by pyridoxal phosphate, heparin and Cibacron blue

The androgen receptor from rat prostate binds 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and related androgenic steroids at a steroid binding site and in addition shows selective binding to structures related to nucleic acids (chromatin binding site). Cytoplasmic androgen receptor, labeled with the synthetic androgen methyltrienolone (R 1881) was readily bound at 40c by 2',5'-ADP-agarose, DNA-cellulose and phosphocellulose. The binding to ADP-agarose and DNA-cellulose was used as a model for study of the nucleic acid binding site of the receptor. Complete elution of androgen receptors from these matrices could be obtained with low concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate (10 mM), heparin (0.2 mg/ml) and Cibacron blue (0.4 mM). Sodium molybdate (10 mM) did not interfere significantly with binding of the androgen receptor to ADP-agarose and had little effect on elution of receptors from the gel. Pyridoxal phosphate, heparin and Cibacron blue in low ionic strength buffers were also shown to be very effective for the extraction of androgen receptors from nuclei of rat prostatic tissue. These results suggest gross similarities in the structure of the androgen receptor with activated forms of receptors for corticoids, estrogens and progestins with respect to nucleic acid binding.

Nucleo-cytoplasmic relationships of oestrogen receptors in rat liver during the oestrous cycle and in response to administered natural and synthetic oestrogen

Oestrogen receptors were measured in the cytosolic and purified nuclear fractions of rat liver. Both cytosolic and nuclear receptors bind oestrogen with high affinity (Kd = 1.47 and 2.28 nM respectively) and specificity similar to that of receptors in order oestrogen-target tissues such as the uterus. During the 4-day oestrous cycle the receptor content and distribution between cytosol and nucleus did not vary; in particular, the content of nuclear receptor did not appear to fluctuate in concert with known cyclic changes in the concentration of plasma oestrogen. Injection of 50 micrograms of oestradiol-17 beta or 10 micrograms of ethynyloestradiol resulted in a 4--6-fold increase in the nuclear receptor content, with a concomitant decrease in the unoccupied-receptor content of cytosol 1 h after injection. The nuclear receptors present after injection bind oestrogens with similar affinity (Kd = 2.78 nM) and specificity to receptors present in uninjected animals. The administration of lower doses of either oestrogen was less effective in producing increases in nuclear receptor content. Hence there is apparently substantial translocation of receptor to the nucleus in response to hyperphysiological doses of oestrogen, but not to the physiological changes in plasma oestrogen concentrations during the oestrous cycle. The response to exogenous oestrogens is discussed in relation to the clinical use of synthetic oestrogens and progestogens.