Properties of a Prolactin Receptor from the Rabbit Epididymis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Specific binding sites for prolactin have been found in membrane preparations from the liver, adrenal, testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicles of male rabbits. In epididymal tissue the binding was time and temperature dependent and was a saturable process with an association constant (Ka) of 1.9 to 2.4 x 109 M-1 and a binding capacity of 175-185 femtomoles/mg protein. The binding of [125I]-oPRL or [125I]-hGH is inhibited by oPRL, but not by bovine GH, ovine FSH or LH. In the male accessory organs the highest binding was found in membrane preparation from the epididymis and binding did not change significantly with age (3 months—1 year). On the other hand, prolactin binding to testis, prostate and seminal vesicles was highest in 3-month-old rabbits.