Growth hormone receptors in isolated rat adipocytes

Specific GH binding sites in isolated rat adipocytes have been partially characterized. Binding of [125I]iodohuman(h)GH was rapid, reversible, and was time and temperature dependent. Maximum specific binding occurred at 37 C in approximately 40 min at pH 7.4. Bound labeled hGH was rapidly dissociable, with the addition of excess unlabeled hormone. Specific binding is inhibited by as little as 1.0-1.5 ng/ml hGH, and 50% inhibition was obtained with 15-20 ng/ml. No inhibition was observed with insulin, glucagon, hPRL, or hTSH at concentrations up to 1 micrograms/ml. This receptor does not discriminate between monkey GH, rat GH, bovine GH, and porcine GH. Specific binding varied linearly with cell concentration. Scatchard analysis revealed linear plots with a Ka of approximately 10(9) M-1 and 15,000 sites per cell. There was less than 15% degradation of [125I]iodo-hGH over 90 min at 37 C. There was a striking increase in [125I]iodo-hGH binding to adipocytes at pH 4.85. Scatchard analysis of binding at pH 4.85 revealed a curvilinear plot with an apparent increase of sites per cell from 15,000 to 60,000, and a modest increase in the apparent affinity constant of the high affinity, low capacity sites using the two-compartment model for curvilinear plots. The GH receptors in rat fat cells displayed no ability to bind labeled hPRL or human placental lactogen, consistent with minimal recognition of lactogenic peptides by these receptors. Thus, the rat adipocyte contains specific binding sites for GH that fulfill the major criteria for receptor binding. The presence of such receptors in these cells may facilitate the study of GH receptors in relation to the biological effects of the hormone on adipose tissue in various metabolic settings.