Biomaterial Database

Adrenocorticoid-dependent alpha-lactalbumin synthesis in rat mammary gland explants: antagonist studies. 1986

S J Quirk, and J E Gannell, and J W Funder

Though adrenal steroids are required for the production of alpha-lactalbumin by mammary gland explants, the physiological class of steroid activity (mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid) remains to be established. alpha-Lactalbumin production by mammary gland explants from mid-pregnant rats has been shown in previous studies to be increased by high doses of aldosterone, but not by deoxycorticosterone; in six of 11 experiments corticosterone, the physiological glucocorticoid in the rat, elevated alpha-lactalbumin; in five other studies corticosterone had no effect. In the present studies the mineralocorticoid antagonist, spirolactone, at very high doses (3-10 mumol/l) blocked the stimulatory effect on alpha-lactalbumin levels of both 30 nmol/l corticosterone and 3 nmol/l RU 26988, a pure synthetic glucocorticoid (Type II) receptor agonist. Receptor studies, however, indicated that this antagonism is consistent with Type II, glucocorticoid receptor occupancy by spirolactone. Since deoxycorticosterone is without agonist effect, and only very high doses of spirolactone affect alpha-lactalbumin synthesis, we conclude that the effect of adrenal steroids on alpha-lactalbumin production is a manifestation of glucocorticoid and not mineralocorticoid activity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007768	Lactalbumin	A major protein fraction of milk obtained from the WHEY.	alpha-Lactalbumin,alpha-Lactalbumin A,alpha-Lactalbumin B,alpha-Lactalbumin C,alpha Lactalbumin,alpha Lactalbumin A,alpha Lactalbumin B,alpha Lactalbumin C
D008321	Mammary Glands, Animal	MAMMARY GLANDS in the non-human MAMMALS.	Mammae,Udder,Animal Mammary Glands,Animal Mammary Gland,Mammary Gland, Animal,Udders
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011919	Rats, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding.	August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D011965	Receptors, Glucocorticoid	Cytoplasmic proteins that specifically bind glucocorticoids and mediate their cellular effects. The glucocorticoid receptor-glucocorticoid complex acts in the nucleus to induce transcription of DNA. Glucocorticoids were named for their actions on blood glucose concentration, but they have equally important effects on protein and fat metabolism. Cortisol is the most important example.	Corticoid Type II Receptor,Glucocorticoid Receptors,Glucocorticoids Receptor,Corticoid II Receptor,Corticoid Type II Receptors,Glucocorticoid Receptor,Receptors, Corticoid II,Receptors, Corticoid Type II,Receptors, Glucocorticoids,Corticoid II Receptors,Glucocorticoids Receptors,Receptor, Corticoid II,Receptor, Glucocorticoid,Receptor, Glucocorticoids
D003907	Dexamethasone	An anti-inflammatory 9-fluoro-glucocorticoid.	Hexadecadrol,Decaject,Decaject-L.A.,Decameth,Decaspray,Dexasone,Dexpak,Hexadrol,Maxidex,Methylfluorprednisolone,Millicorten,Oradexon,Decaject L.A.
D005260	Female		Females
D005938	Glucocorticoids	A group of CORTICOSTEROIDS that affect carbohydrate metabolism (GLUCONEOGENESIS, liver glycogen deposition, elevation of BLOOD SUGAR), inhibit ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE secretion, and possess pronounced anti-inflammatory activity. They also play a role in fat and protein metabolism, maintenance of arterial blood pressure, alteration of the connective tissue response to injury, reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, and functioning of the central nervous system.	Glucocorticoid,Glucocorticoid Effect,Glucorticoid Effects,Effect, Glucocorticoid,Effects, Glucorticoid
D000450	Aldosterone	A hormone secreted by the ADRENAL CORTEX that regulates electrolyte and water balance by increasing the renal retention of sodium and the excretion of potassium.	Aldosterone, (+-)-Isomer,Aldosterone, (11 beta,17 alpha)-Isomer
D000732	Androstanols	Androstanes and androstane derivatives which are substituted in any position with one or more hydroxyl groups.	Hydroxyandrostanes