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Prolactin receptor expression in monolayer cultures of rabbit mammary epithelial cells: Pre‐ and postpartum [ 125 I]‐prolactin binding activity
Author(s) -
Soltysiak R. M.,
Fellows R. E.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.240220206
Subject(s) - prolactin , endocrinology , medicine , lactation , receptor , mammary gland , prolactin receptor , biology , prolactin cell , epithelium , cell culture , chemistry , hormone , pregnancy , genetics , cancer , breast cancer
Expression of specific [ 125 I]‐prolactin‐binding sites under culture conditions has been investigated for isolated mammary epithelial cells from virgin, pregnant, and lactating rabbits. Primary monolayer cultures were obtained by sequential enzymatic dispersion of mammary tissue followed by 48 hr incubation in a medium selective for epithelial cells. Scatchard analyses of binding data obtained from these cultures indicated a single class of receptor sites, the affinity constant of which (2.5 × 10 9 M −1 ) did not vary significantly during mammary development. The number of prolactin receptors, however, expressed by virgin and early pregnant epithelial cells was significantly increased over those from late pregnancy or lactation. Less differentiated cells also respond to growth in pregnant rabbit serum with an increase in specific [ 125 I]‐prolactin binding. The diminished receptor expression by cells obtained after 17 days of pregnancy coincides with the attainment of secretory capacity in the animal, and may reflect the influence of the low serum prolactin or high progesterone levels circulating during the last trimester in the rabbit, or be the cultural expression of secretory differentiation.