| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Endocrinology, Vol 113, 1287-1291, Copyright © 1983 by Endocrine Society
ARTICLES |
PT Pearce, BA Khalid and JW Funder
Tritiated promegestone ([3H]R5020) is bound with high affinity in cytosol prepared from the thymus gland of both male and female rats. To prevent tracer binding to glucocorticoid receptors, we have used excess RU26988 (11 beta, 17 beta-dihydroxy-21-methyl-17 alpha-pregna-1,4,6- trien-20-yn-3-one), a highly specific synthetic glucocorticoid. In the presence of 1 microM RU26988, [3H]R5020 was bound with high affinity (Kd less than or equal to 1 nM) and specificity (R5020 greater than progesterone much greater than estradiol greater than dihydrotestosterone = cortisol = corticosterone = dexamethasone) appropriate for progesterone receptors (PR). These sites were predominantly located in the epithelioid fraction of the thymus. PR levels were 14 +/- 3 fmol/mg protein in female thymus and 10 +/- 4 fmol/mg in male thymus; estrogen administration elevated thymic PR levels in both species (female, 26 +/- 2 fmol/mg; male, 21 +/- 3 fmol/mg). In estrogen-primed female rats, cytosolic thymic PR levels were acutely lowered to 20% of estrogen-primed control levels by the im administration of 1 mg progesterone. Thymic PR levels in pregnant (11- 14 days) rats were approximately 50% of those in nonpregnant controls. Effects of glucocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens on the thymus are well documented; the demonstration of PR raises the possibility of direct effects of progesterone on the thymus.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  R. M. Kelly, S. L. Highfill, A. Panoskaltsis-Mortari, P. A. Taylor, R. L. Boyd, G. A. Hollander, and B. R. Blazar Keratinocyte growth factor and androgen blockade work in concert to protect against conditioning regimen-induced thymic epithelial damage and enhance T-cell reconstitution after murine bone marrow transplantation Blood, June 15, 2008; 111(12): 5734 - 5744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. S. P. Heng, G. L. Goldberg, D. H. D. Gray, J. S. Sutherland, A. P. Chidgey, and R. L. Boyd Effects of Castration on Thymocyte Development in Two Different Models of Thymic Involution J. Immunol., September 1, 2005; 175(5): 2982 - 2993. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. Savino and M. Dardenne Neuroendocrine Control of Thymus Physiology Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2000; 21(4): 412 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 Z. Yesilova, M. Ozata, I. H. Kocar, M. Turan, A. Pekel, A. Sengul, and I. C. Ozdemír The Effects of Gonadotropin Treatment on the Immunological Features of Male Patients with Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2000; 85(1): 66 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. A. Tibbetts, F. DeMayo, S. Rich, O. M. Conneely, and B. W. O'Malley Progesterone receptors in the thymus are required for thymic involution during pregnancy and for normal fertility PNAS, October 12, 1999; 96(21): 12021 - 12026. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Graham and C. L. Clarke Physiological Action of Progesterone in Target Tissues Endocr. Rev., August 1, 1997; 18(4): 502 - 519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Grossman Interactions between the gonadal steroids and the immune system Science, January 18, 1985; 227(4684): 257 - 261. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
