EVIDENCE FOR COLOCALIZATION OF GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR WITH CYTOPLASMIC MICROTUBULES IN HUMAN GINGIVAL FIBROBLASTS, USING 2 DIFFERENT MONOCLONAL ANTI-GR ANTIBODIES, CONFOCAL LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPY AND IMAGE-ANALYSIS

The cellular distribution of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in relation to the microtubule protein tubulin was studied in human gingival fibroblasts, using two different anti-GR antibodies of different Ig-classes, by indirect immunofluorescence immunocytology. Further studies were performed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and digital image analysis. The study focused on fluorochrome separation, optical sectioning, digital subtraction techniques and reconstruction of projections obtained using stacks of recorded transversal sections. The data presented further strengthens the notion of a structural colocalization between GR and cytoplasmic microtubules in human fibroblasts.