Somatotrophic receptors in hepatic tissue of the developing male pig

Abstract

ABSTRACT The development of hepatic somatotrophic receptors and plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were investigated at five different ages (2, 20, 35, 105 and 165 days) in four male pigs per group. The specific binding of 125I-labelled porcine GH (pGH) to hepatic somatotrophic membranes was very low at 2 days of age (0·53±0·12%), and increased progressively (P <0·01) with advancing age to 3·60 ± 0·95% at 165 days of age. Specific binding of 125I-labelled bovine GH (bGH) to the same membrane preparations was markedly higher than binding of 125I-labelled pGH; it also showed a distinct developmental increase (P <0·01) with age from 4·4 ± 0·55% at 2 days of age to 24·0±1·90% at 165 days of age. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I increased significantly (P <0·01) from 79 ± 14·0 μg/l at 2 days of age to 610 ± 64·0 μg/l at 165 days of age. Non-linear regression analysis of the competitive binding data using bGH as labelled and unlabelled ligands showed linear Scatchard plots in the three youngest age groups, with an association constant (Ka) of approximately 3·5 litres/nmol. Curvilinear Scatchard plots were observed in the two oldest age groups. The Ka for the higher affinity binding site (approximately 5·0 litres/nmol) was very similar to that for the sole site observed in the younger animals. The Ka of the lower affinity binding site was approximately 0·35 litres/nmol. There was a significant (P <0·01) developmental increase in the capacity of the higher affinity binding site from 12 ± 4·6 pmol/100 mg liver at 2 days of age to 91 ± 23·0 pmol/100 mg liver at 165 days of age. These studies demonstrate heterogeneity of somatotrophic hepatic membranes in the pig and show that low concentrations of a high affinity binding site are already present in newborn pigs. A considerable developmental increase was observed in the capacity of this binding site which correlated significantly (r = 0·82, P <0·01, n = 20) with plasma concentrations of IGF-I. The role of the lower affinity binding site which was observed in addition to the high affinity binding site in older pigs is less clear. The data from the present study support the hypothesis that the postnatal rise in plasma concentrations of IGF-I is associated with the developmental increase of the capacity of the high affinity somatotrophic receptors. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 123, 25–31