The somatotrophic axis in young steers: influence of nutritional status and oestradiol-17β on hepatic high-and low-affinity somatotrophic binding sites

Abstract

ABSTRACT The binding of bovine GH (bGH) to hepatic membranes obtained from steers on either high (3% dry matter of body weight per day) or low (1% dry matter of body weight per day) planes of nutrition with or without an oestradiol-17β implant was studied (n = 5 per group). Binding studies were performed on both crude membrane homogenates and on 100 000 g microsomal membrane fractions; identical results were obtained using both preparations. In all four groups of animals, linear Scatchard plots were obtained, but following pretreatment of the membranes with MgCl2 to remove endogenously bound hormone, curvilinear plots were obtained in the groups on the high plane of nutrition. Analysis of these curves suggested the presence of a high- and low-affinity binding site, the high-affinity site being fully occupied in the absence of MgCl2 pretreatment. The specific binding of bGH in MgCl2-pretreated crude membranes was greater (P < 0·01) in well-fed steers (14·8 ± 1·6%) than in poorly fed steers (9·8 ± 0·9%). Scatchard analysis showed this to be due to the presence of a high-affinity site (dissociation constant (Kd) = 11·6 ± 3·3 pmol/l) in the well-fed animals only. In addition, there was an increase (P < 0·01) in the affinity, but not in the capacity, of the low-affinity site (Kd = 106·4 ± 22·8 pmol/l in well-fed steers and 197·0 ± 23·8 pmol/l in poorly fed steers). Oestradiol treatment was associated with an increase (P < 0·01) in specific binding at both planes of nutrition, but binding was higher (P < 0·01) in well-fed (24·8 ± 2·9%) than in poorly fed (15·6 ± 3·7%) steers. Scatchard analysis after MgCl2 pretreatment again showed a curvilinear plot at the high and a linear plot at the low nutritional plane. The effect of oestradiol was to increase (P < 0·001) the capacity of the high-affinity site from 1·87 ± 0·61 pmol/100 mg in the control well-fed group to 6·56 ± 1 ·2 pmol/100 mg. The capacity of the low-affinity site was increased (P < 0·01) from 20·1 ± 2·6 to 30·1 ± 3·2 pmol/100 mg in the well-fed group, with a similar change in the poorly fed group. Oestradiol had no effect on the apparent affinity of either binding site. These studies demonstrate a heterogeneity of somatotrophic binding sites of hepatic membranes in steers. The presence of a high-affinity site is determined by nutritional status, whereas oestradiol primarily affects receptor capacity. Thus nutrition and oestradiol have independent and qualitatively different effects on somatotrophic binding. As the rate of weight gain correlated (P < 0·01) with the capacity of the high-affinity site, it is suggested that somatotrophic receptor modulation is a primary factor in the regulation of somatic growth in the ruminant. J. Endocr. (1988) 116, 169–177