A corticosteroid receptor in neuronal membranes

Miles Orchinik, Thomas F. Murray, Frank L. Moore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

484 Scopus citations

Abstract

Steroids may rapidly alter neuronal function and behavior through poorly characterized, direct actions on neuronal membranes. The membrane-bound receptors mediating these behavioral responses have not been identified. [3H]Corticosterone labels a population of specific, high-affinity recognition sites (dissociation constant = 0.51 nanomolar) in synaptic membranes from an amphibian brain. These binding sites were localized by receptor autoradiography in the neuropil, ouside the regions of perikarya. The affinities of corticoids for this [3H]corticosterone binding site were linearly related to their potencies in rapidly suppressing male reproductive behavior. Thus, it appears that brain membranes contain a corticosteroid receptor that could participate in the regulation of behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1848-1851
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume252
Issue number5014
StatePublished - Jun 28 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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