Gonadotropin receptors in experimentally induced ovarian tumors in mice

Gonadotropic hormones are required for the induction and maintenance of tumors arising in ovaries that have been transplanted to the spleens of gonadectomized mice. The characteristics of gonadotropin receptors for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-luteinizing hormone on cells from these tumors of varying size, age, and morphology have been determined. The specific binding of 125I-labeled HCG to cells obtained by collagenase digestion, 15 to 65 weeks postimplantation from granulosa cell or luteinized cell, or mixed granulosa-luteal tumors was analyzed by Scatchard plot. Neither the size, weight, duration of implantation, nor histological morphology affected the receptor-binding affinity [equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), 6 X 10(-10) M], and, presumably, the receptor is qualitatively similar. In contrast, the number of HCG receptors per cell increased 17-fold and was related to the degree of morphological luteinization of the tumor. HCG-sensitive adenyl cyclase was also demonstrated and compared to HCG binding in a highly luteinized tumor.