The determination of mineralocorticoid receptors in human mononuclear leukocytes from patients with mineralocorticoid excess: physiological and pathological implications.

The affinity and the capacity of mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) in human mononuclear leukocytes (HML) were determined in 9 patients with Conn's syndrome (PA) and in 3 patients with pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA). The number of binding sites per cell was 136 +/- 39 (mean +/- SD) in PA. One case with PHA had no MR, and of the other 2 patients, one had 50 and the other 55 receptors per cell. The capacity of normal controls ranged from 200 to 400 receptors per cell (n = 20). We conclude that the etiology of PHA is due to a lack of MR in the target tissues and that a down regulation of MR may exist in PA.