Iodinated bovine prolactin. Characterization and binding to mammary gland cells

Iodinated bovine prolactin (2.6 iodine atoms/molecule; labelled with a trace of 125I to give a specific activity of 0.041 muCi/mg) was prepared by the chloramine T method. It was active in two bioassays (pigeon crop sac and dispersed mouse mammary cell), though somewhat less active than the unmodified hormone. In an immunoassay, iodinated prolactin was more effective than the unmodified hormone at displacing 125I-prolactin from antibody. High specific activity 125I-prolactin (1 iodine atom/molecule; 70 muCi/microgram) was used for autoradiographic studies on the binding of prolactin to mouse mammary cells. In vivo the labelled hormone found in the mammary gland was associated with membranes of mammary epithelial cells and with alveolar lumen contents. In vitro 125I-prolactin was shown to bind to dispersed mouse mammary epithelial cells.