Effect of glucocorticoids on galactosylceramide sulfotransferase activity in rat brain

Previous studies have shown that glucocorticoids can induce the sulfatide-forming enzyme galactosylceramide sulfotransferase (GalCer-ST) in cultured glioblastoma cells. To investigate whether a similar process occurs in vivo, we administered corticosterone to infant and adult adrenalectomized rats and then assayed brain GalCer-ST activity and sulfatide content. Both measures were unexpectedly decreased rather than increased by hormone treatment, indicating that glucocorticoids may not regulate brain sulfatide biosynthesis in the same manner as observed in clonal cell lines.