Introduction Corticosterone is the adrenal steroid, the major glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoid hormones are also known as corticosteroid hormones and are synthesized mainly in the adrenal cortex; however, more recently the enzymes involved in their synthesis have been found in a variety of cells and tissues, including the heart. The effects of these hormones are mediated via both cytoplasmic mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs), which act as ligand-inducible transcription factor (1). Corticosterone has profound effect on the structure and function of the hippocampus (2, 3). Brain corticosterone action through the glucocorticoid receptor may involve memory storage (4). Emotional stress might cause increases in plasma corticosterone (5).
Principle of the Assay The AssayMax Corticosterone ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit is designed for detection of corticosterone in plasma, serum, urine, milk, saliva, and cell culture supernatant. This assay employs a quantitative competitive enzyme immunoassay technique that measures corticosterone in less than 3 hours. A polyclonal antibody specific for corticosterone has been pre-coated onto a 96-well microplate with removable strips. Corticosterone in standards and samples is competed with a biotinylated corticosterone sandwiched by the immobilized antibody and streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate. All unbound material is then washed away and a peroxidase enzyme substrate is added. The color development is stopped and the intensity of the color is measured.