Ontogeny of messenger RNA for the rat growth hormone receptor and serum binding protein

Little is known of the regulation of gene expression for the family of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) receptors (PRL-R). Furthermore, the relationship between expression of the GH receptor (GHR) and its soluble truncated form (GH-binding protein, GHBP) is unclear. The actions of both GH and PRL are developmentally regulated and several studies have examined the ontogeny of these receptors by classical hormone-binding techniques. In the current study we have examined the expression of GHR/GHBP and PRL-R mRNA in the male rat over a broad developmental range--fetal through to 110 days of age. The GHR mRNA (4.5 kb) was barely detectable in fetal and early (less than 20 days) postnatal livers, but was followed by a gradual increase up to 40 days of age by which time adult plateau levels were reached. In contrast, hepatic GHBP mRNA (1.2 kb) was clearly identifiable in the fetus and subsequently followed a similar pattern to the 4.5 kb GHR mRNA although there was a somewhat earlier rise. Hepatic membrane binding studies using 125I-bovine GH as ligand revealed no measurable binding activity at less than 20 days of age. Binding remained low thereafter. In contrast, the serum GHBP binding activity was detectable at 10 days of age and rose to adult levels by 50 days of age. These results indicate that mRNA species for GHR, GHBP, PRL-R and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are all developmentally regulated with the pattern for IGF-I correlating more closely with that of GHBP than GHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)