Detection of the glucocorticoid receptors in brain protein extracts by SDS-PAGE

Abstract

Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones vital for organ system homeostasis and for the maintenance of essential biological processes. A signifi cant part of these actions are mediated through glucocorticoid receptor (GR) that belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. To cover such variety of processes the different glucocorticoids act through different GR isoforms that are originated due to posttranscriptional and posttranslational mechanisms. For this reason when evaluating the levels of GRs we should preferentially determine protein levels instead of gene expression. Here, we describe the detection by Western blotting of the GR (α and β isoforms) protein, using macrodissected brain tissue.