Prolactin binding sites in the male rat liver following castration.

Specific binding sites for prolactin (PRL) have been detected in membrane preparations from the liver of the male rat following castration. The magnitude of the increased binding following castration varied with the age of the animals and with the time after castration. The effect of castration did not appear to be PRL mediated, since increases or decreases of serum PRL levels after pharmacological agents had no effect on PRL binding. The pituitary, however, seems to have a critical role in mediating the increase in PRL binding. Adrenalectomy did not influence the extent of binding of PRL after castration. Testosterone administration, however, completely prevented the increased PRL binding which followed castration. These studies suggest that testosterone has a modulating effect on hepatic PRL binding sites. The maintenance of such binding activity requires not only PRL, but also a functioning pituitary.