Estradiol binding and phosphatase activity in the uterus after castration and chronic diabetes: effect of molybdate and estrogen replacement.

ABSTRACT

We have studied the cytosolic estrogen receptor in uterus of rats after castration and diabetes induction with Streptozotocin, and the relationship of estradiol (E2) binding with phosphatase activities. Ovariectomy (OVX) and diabetes produced a significant reduction in Type I and II binding sites, but did not affect the equilibrium dissociation constants. The reduction of receptor levels was partially reversed by homogenization and incubation with 20 mM molybdate (MoO4) and also by chronic treatment with E2. Considering the possibility that the increase in E2 binding in the presence of MoO=4 was due to phosphatase inhibition, the activities of these enzymes hypothetically involved in receptor dephosphorylation and inactivation were determined in uterine homogenate and cytosol from intact, OVX, and diabetic rats with and without E2 treatment. Chronic OVX and diabetes induced stimulation of alkaline, acid and neutral phosphatase activities. On the contrary, the increment of estrogenic receptors due to E2 treatment was not correlated with changes in phosphatase activity. It is possible that this effect was due to the protection of the receptor or to the induction of receptor synthesis by E2. Molybdate inhibited acid and neutral phosphatases and increased alkaline phosphatase, which suggest that neutral and acid phosphatases are identical and that they were responsible for the receptor inactivation. However, it is unclear at present the relationship between the increment of alkaline phosphatase and the reduction of receptors.