Binding of human chorionic gonadotropin by rat cumuli oophori and granulosa cells: a comparative study

Cumulus oocyte complexes isolated from PMS gonadotropin-primed immature rats bind [125I]hCG. Unlabeled hCG and ovine LH compete with the labeled hormone for binding sites, while rat FSH and ovine PRL are without effect. Since specific binding of [125I]hCG could not be detected in preparations of oocytes from which the cumuli had been removed, it appears that the binding exhibited by the complex can be attributed to the cumulus cells. The concentration dependence of binding is consistent with the presence of one population of high affinity (apparent Kd, 1.4 X 10(-10) M) binding sites (223 +/- 33 sites/cumulus cell). Rat granulosa cells bind hCG with equivalent apparent affinity and specificity but contain more sites (2060 +/- 180/cell) than cumulus cells.