RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A corticosteroid receptor in neuronal membranes JF Science JO Science FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 1848 OP 1851 DO 10.1126/science.2063198 VO 252 IS 5014 A1 Orchinik, M A1 Murray, TF A1 Moore, FL YR 1991 UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/252/5014/1848.abstract AB Steroids may rapidly alter neuronal function and behavior through poorly characterized, direct actions on neuronal membranes. The membrane-bound receptors mediating these behavioral responses have not been identified. [3H]Corticosterone labels a population of specific, high-affinity recognition sites (dissociation constant = 0.51 nanomolar) in synaptic membranes from an amphibian brain. These binding sites were localized by receptor autoradiography in the neuropil, outside the regions of perikarya. The affinities of corticoids for this [3H]corticosterone binding site were linearly related to their potencies in rapidly suppressing male reproductive behavior. Thus, it appears that brain membranes contain a corticosteroid receptor that could participate in the regulation of behavior.