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Kinetic and autoradiographic studies on binding of hCG to the testicular LH receptors of neonatal rats

Summary. The properties of hCG binding to LH receptors of the neonatal (5-day-old) rat testis were analysed and compared with those of the adult testis. The equilibrium association constants (K_a) of hCG-binding were similar at both ages, 2–4 x 10¹⁰ m^–1. In contrast, kinetic binding studies revealed that the association and dissociation rate constants of hCG binding were more rapid in the neonatal testis. Likewise, it was observed that the progression from loose (easily dissociable) to tight (non-dissociable) binding was less complete in the young than in the adult testis. Autoradiography of ¹²⁵I-labelled hCG binding to interstitial cell suspensions at the two ages showed that the gonadotrophin binding per Leydig cell was about 50% lower in the neonatal testis. Conversely, since the surface area of adult Leydig cells was about 4-fold larger, the receptor density appeared to be higher in the neonatal Leydig cells. The rapid recovery of LH receptors after hCG stimulation, typical of the neonatal cells, was due to rapid replenishment of binding in the cells initially occupied by the injected hormone, rather than to an hCG-induced increase of Leydig cell number. Finally, in-vivo experiments with cycloheximide revealed that the rapid recovery of LH receptors was dependent on protein synthesis. These differences in the kinetics of neonatal testicular LH receptor turnover may be involved in the unique functional features of the fetal–neonatal growth phase of rat testicular Leydig cells.

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