Corticosterone effects on differentiation and X-ray-induced transformation of C3H/10T1/2 mouse cells

Glucocorticoid hormones have dramatic effects on cytodifferentiation and carcinogenesis in vitro and in vivo. We have investigated the effects of the endogenous rodent glucocorticoid hormone, corticosterone, on the X-irradiation-induced transformation and differentiation of C3H/10T1/2 mouse fibroblast cells in culture. Initially, we have demonstrated the presence of functional glucocorticoid receptors in these cells. We found that corticosterone has little effect on X-ray-induced transformation. However, this hormone alone was found to differentiate a high number of these fibroblastic cells to the adipogenic cell lineage. Using an antagonist to the glucocorticoid receptor, we demonstrate that the hormonal effect on differentiation is mediated by the corticosterone-receptor complex.