Effects of adrenal steroids on the concentration of Na+–K+ pumps in rat skeletal muscle

Abstract

Abstract Since adrenal steroids have been shown to upregulate the concentration of Na+–K+-ATPase in cardiac muscle, similar effects could be expected in skeletal muscle. Following infusion of dexamethasone (0·02–0·1 mg/kg per day) for 7 days in 10-week-old rats, the total concentration of [3H]ouabain-binding sites rose by up to 22–42% in soleus, extensor digitorum longus, gastrocnemius and diaphragm muscle. Dexamethasone produced no or minute changes in the Na+–K+ contents of skeletal muscle. In contrast, infusion with aldosterone (0·02–0·5 mg/kg per day) for 7 days produced hypokalemia and a graded reduction in the K+ content of skeletal muscle, which was closely correlated to a downregulation of the [3 H]ouabain-binding site concentration (r= 0·65–0·70; P<0·001). The results indicate that in skeletal muscle high doses of glucocorticoids upregulate the concentration of Na+–K+ pumps whereas mineralocorticoids induce a downregulation, which is secondary to the concomitant K+ deficiency. Since adrenalectomy produced no significant change in [3 H]ouabain-binding site concentration, basal levels of endogenous adrenal steroids seem to be of minor importance for the regulation of Na+–K+ pump concentration in skeletal muscle. Journal of Endocrinology (1997) 152, 49–57