The effect of ether on formation and dissociation of rat uterine estradiol-receptor complex

The addition of 2% v/v ethyl ether to uterine cytosol incubation mixtures produced a 25% increase in the rat of association of 0 degrees with 3H-estradiol and almost a 3-fold increase in the rate of exchange of estradiol-receptor complex with 3H-estradiol at 20 degrees. Uterine cytosol saturated with non-radioactive estradiol required over 8 hours for complete exchange with 3H-estradiol at 20 degrees while in the presence of 2% ether exchange was complete in 2 hours and revealed about 15% more specific binding sites. The presence of ether in reaction mixtures had no effect on dextran coated charcoal separation on bound from free 3H-estradiol nor on the stability of the receptor on uterine cytosol.