Glucocorticoid inhibition of protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

In young adult rats receiving glucocorticoids in pharmacological amounts, the accumulation proteins in the liver was suppressed. In vivo pulse-labeling experiments showed that inhibition of protein synthesis in the liver was an early effect of a single dose of glucocorticoid followed by a stimulation of protein synthesis. In animals receiving multiple doses of glucocorticoid over a period of a few days, a more pronounced inhibition in protein synthesis was observed, and the secondary stimulation of protein synthesis did not occur. These in vivo observations were paralleled by the results with cell-free protein-synthesizing systems, which indicated that the glucocorticoid inhibitory effect was imparted to the soluble fraction of the liver.