Androgen binding sites have been detected in cytosols and nuclear extracts from human benign hyperplastic prostatic (BPH) tissue with exchange assays using [3H]methyltrienolone and [3H]5alpha-dihydrotestosterone respectively. The concentrations of binding sites and the equilibrium dissociation constants for the [3H]steroid-receptor interactions have been determined and the specificity of the binding has been examined. The observed properties of the binding sites are consistent with those characteristic of androgen receptors. The binding sites are present in nuclear extracts from all BPH tissue samples examined to date. The amount of binding detected in the nuclear fraction is higher than that found in the cytosol.
A reliable measurement of steroid hormone receptors is essential for attempts to correlate receptor levels with response to endocrine therapy in prostatic carcinoma. Evidence that receptors in many tissues are stabilized by sodium molybdate prompted the examination of the effects of this salt on the measurement of steroid-binding sites in human prostatic tissue. The presence of molybdate (10 mmol/l) during tissue homogenization, cytosol or nuclear extract preparation and binding-site assay led to a threefold increase in the amount of high-affinity androgen binding detected in cytosol, and a slight increase in the number of cytosol progestin-binding sites. The apparent binding affinity for steroids was increased in both cases. No effect of molybdate was observed on androgen-binding sites in nuclear extracts.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.