Oxytocin receptors from LLC-PK1 cells: expression in Xenopus oocytes

Two selective radioligands for oxytocin receptors, [3H]-[4-threonine,7-glycine]oxytocin [( 3H]-[Thr4,Gly7]OT) and 125I-[1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-(O-methyl)tyrosine, 4-threonine, 8-ornithine, 9-tyrosine amide]-oxytocin (125I-OTA), were used to characterize oxytocin receptors from two pig kidney-derived cell lines, LLC-PK1 and LLC-PK1L. [3H]-[Thr4,Gly7]OT and 125I-OTA bind with high affinity (mean Kd values of 14 and 0.06 nM, respectively) to the same population of sites on LLC-PK1 cell membranes [maximum binding (Bmax) of 100 fmol/mg membrane protein]. These sites had the expected ligand selectivity of oxytocin receptors. [3H]-[Thr4,Gly7]OT and 125I-OTA binding sites could be distinguished from V2 vasopressin receptors present on LLC-PK1 and LLC-PK1L cells on the basis of clearly different maximal capacities and ligand selectivities, different sensitivities to insulin and serum, and absence of heterologous downregulation. Oxytocin receptors from LLC-PK1 cells have no functional relationship with adenylate cyclase. [Thr4,Gly7]OT affected neither the basal adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content nor the vasopressin-induced cAMP accumulation by LLC-PK1 cells. Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with LLC-PK1 cell mRNA responded to [Thr4,Gly7]OT by an increase in 45Ca2+ outflux; this effect is antagonized by a highly selective oxytocin antagonist.