[Specific glucocorticoid receptors of human muscle cytosol]

The level of specific type II and III glucocorticoid receptors was measured in biopsy specimens taken from the abdominal rectal muscle of patients operated on the abdominal cavity organs for chronic diseases of the biliferous tract or peptic ulcer of the stomach in the stage of remission. Type II glucocorticoid receptors were determined with the aid of labeled triamcinolone acetonide whereas type III glucocorticoid receptors with the aid of labeled cortisol after preliminary elimination of endogenous glucocorticoids from cytosol. The content of type II glucocorticoid receptors in muscle tissue cytosol amounted to 11.7 fmol/mg protein, whereas the dissociation constant of the hormone-receptor complex to 1.346 X 10(-8) M. The content of type III glucocorticoid receptors in muscle tissue cytosol was equal to 114 fmol/mg protein, the dissociation constant of the hormone-receptor complex to 0.30 X 10(-8)M. The hypothesis of antiglucocorticoid role of type III glucocorticoid receptors is discussed.