Microsomal phosphorylase in rat heart: depletion following adrenalectomy and restoration by in vivo administration of dexamethasone.

Phosphorylase activities were determined in homogenates, particulate and soluble fractions of heart muscle from control, adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized dexamethasone-treated rats so as to assess the influence, if any, of glucocorticoids on the subcellular distribution of this enzyme. The specific activities (enzyme activity expressed as units per mg protein) and recoveries (enzyme activity expressed as units per fraction/g tissue) of both the active form of phosphorylase (phosphorylase a) and total phosphorylase (phosphorylases a and b) were essentially similar in homogenates and 10,000 X g particulate fractions prepared from hearts of control, adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized dexamethasone-treated rats. Interestingly, however, the specific activities and recoveries of active as well as total phosphorylase were markedly lower (70-80%; P less than 0.001) in cardiac microsomes of adrenalectomized compared to control rats. On the other hand, the specific activities and recoveries of phosphorylase (active and total) were significantly higher (30-60%; P less than 0.01 or 0.001) in the cytosol fraction of heart muscle from adrenalectomized compared to control rats. Treatment of adrenalectomized rats with dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid) restored the specific activities and recoveries of phosphorylase in heart microsomal and cytosol fractions to control levels. No appreciable differences were observed in the specific activity ratios of phosphorylase a to phosphorylases a and b in any of the subcellular fractions of cardiac muscle from control, adrenalectomized, and adrenalectomized dexamethasone-treated rats. The above findings suggest a potential involvement of glucocorticoids in the maintenance of the membrane-associated (microsomal) pool of phosphorylase and, therefore, in the cellular compartmentalization of this enzyme in heart muscle.