In vivo effects of cadmium on rat liver glucocorticoid receptor functional properties

Abstract 1. 1. Cadmium (Cd 2+ ) administered in vivo induced a 40% reduction of rat liver glucocorticoid receptor (GR) capacity and inhibition of glucocorticoid-receptor complexes binding to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) DNA fragment containing GR consensus sequence. 2. 2. The effect of Cd 2+ on the GR binding activity can be reversed with DTT, suggesting Cd 2+ interaction with thiol groups. 3. 3. Cd 2+ -related GR modification seems to be mediated by Cd 2+ binding to cytoplasmic components included in the regulation of the receptor function, although the direct binding of the metal to the receptor thiols could not be ruled out.