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Age-dependent changes in rat liver steroid hormone receptor proteins
Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|March 1, 1980
Summary
Aging reduces the effectiveness of steroid hormone receptors in rat liver. Receptor affinity for hormones like dexamethasone decreases, impacting nuclear translocation and increasing non-specific binding.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Steroid hormone-receptor complex formation is crucial for cellular regulation.
- Previous studies found no age-related changes in rat liver cytosol receptor protein concentration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of rat age on steroid hormone-receptor protein complex formation in liver cytosol.
- To analyze age-related changes in receptor affinity and hormone binding.
Main Methods:
- Investigated steroid hormone-receptor complex formation in rat liver cytosol across different ages.
- Measured receptor protein concentration, hormone-receptor affinity, and hormone-protein binding.
Main Results:
- No significant age-related change in the concentration of specific receptor proteins was observed.
- Aged rats showed decreased affinity of specific receptors for dexamethasone and corticosterone.
- Concentration of steroid hormones bound to specific receptors decreased with age.
- Non-specific protein binding of hormones showed a reciprocal age-dependent increase.
Conclusions:
- Aging impairs the functional capacity of steroid hormone receptors in rat liver cytosol.
- Reduced receptor affinity and altered hormone binding contribute to age-related changes in steroid hormone signaling.
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