Development of an exchange assay for cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors using the synergistic effects of molybdate plus dithiothreitol.

A glucocorticoid receptor exchange assay has been developed for the accurate quantification of both free and steroid-bound receptors in rat liver cytosol. Hepatic cytosol from adrenalectomized rats was saturated in vitro with unlabeled corticosterone. Cytosol was subsequently treated with [3H]dexamethasone (with and without 1000-fold cold dexamethasone) for 2-28 h at 4 C in the presence of 10 mM molybdate plus 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT). Complete exchange occurred between 16-28 h in the presence of molybdate plus DTT. In control and 10 mM molybdate (alone) treated samples only about 50% exchange was achieved. In the presence of 5 mM DTT (alone) approximately 60-70% exchange was observed. The exchange assay (utilizing molybdate plus DTT) was also applied to hepatic cytosol of adrenalectomized rats injected with corticosterone in vivo and to samples prebound with unlabeled dexamethasone.