Interaction of aldosterone and corticosterone with cell nuclei of target organs under different functional states

Abstract

The effect of changes in the aldosterone secretion by adrenals and the functional state of target organs on the 3H-aldosterone binding by isolated cell nuclei of kidney and brain have been studied. The least amount of binding of 3H-aldosterone in cell nuclei of kidney and brain has been found under sodium load when the secretion of aldosterone by adrenals was greatly suppressed. In animals with high aldosterone secretion under sodium deficiency, 3H-aldosterone binding in cell nuclei was many times higher than in sodium loaded animals. However, if sodium load was combined with a restricted water intake, the aldosterone secretion was not completely suppressed, despite the excess of sodium. In this case, the level of 3H-aldosterone binding in cell nuclei of kidneys and brain appeared high. The level of 3H-corticosterone binding by cell nuclei of kidney and brain did not show such a dependence on experimental conditions which changed the mineralocorticoid status. It is suggested that the presence of aldosterone in the blood could possibly influence the content of mineralocorticoid receptors in target organs. It is possible that aldosterone induces the formation of mineralocorticoid receptors in target cell nuclei. It is also probable that the synthesis of receptors can be influenced by some other factors participating in the regulation of target organ function.