Age-related changes in the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by dexamethasone: correlation with the low-affinity...

Rat liver membranes contain Low-affinity glucocorticoid binding sites (LAGS), capable of binding with low affinity (Kd approximately 100 nM) endogenous glucocorticoids. Unlike the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the LAGS level undergoes abrupt changes throughout life. The investigation of these changes may be useful in determining whether the LAGS are involved in the cellular response to glucocorticoids. For this purpose, we have studied glucocorticoid induction of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), and its relationship with the LAGS level in adrenalectomized and fasted rats of different ages. No significant differences in the GR level, or in its Kd and activation, were observed among rats of 1, 3, and 12 months of age. On the other hand, the LAGS level showed an important variation with age, from almost undetectable in 1-month-old rats, to a maximum value in 3-month-old rats. With respect to TAT activity, an increase with age in the threshold of response to dexamethasone (DEX) administration was observed. The smallest dose of DEX capable of provoking a significant TAT induction rose from 0.1 microgram/kg body wt. in 1-month-old rats to 10 micrograms/kg body wt. in 12-month-old rats. However, the smallest dose of DEX able to elicit the maximal response was 10 micrograms/kg body wt. in all the assayed ages. This dose provoked a 40% decrease in the GR level, but did not significantly modify the LAGS content. From these results, we conclude that there is an age-related change in the threshold of response to DEX that cannot be explained by the GR-glucocorticoid interaction. The possibility that the LAGS modulate the cell response to glucocorticoids arises from the coincidence of this change with that observed in the LAGS concentration throughout life.