Estrogen receptor protein of pancreas

A cytosol receptor protein for estriol and estradiol-17β has been demonstrated in the pancreas of the dog, baboon and man. Sedimentation in sucrose gradient revealed this protein to be in 3.7–4.2 S range. The binding capacity of the cytosol was destroyed by proteolytic enzymes, pointing to the protein nature of the binding component. Following incubation of pancreatic tissue at 37°C (but not at 4°) extraction of the washed nuclei with 0.4 M KCl revealed the presence of a protein with a 4.6 S sedimentation characteristic. The findings indicate that specific receptor proteins for estrogens may be present in tissues not considered to be target organs for these hormones.