The ontogeny of growth hormone receptors in the rabbit tibia.

To address the question of the mode of action of GH in stimulating longitudinal bone growth, we have used a panel of anti-GH receptor monoclonal antibodies to demonstrate GH receptors in the rabbit tibia and have studied the ontogeny of these receptors. In the neonate, receptors were localized in the hypertrophic zone between the cartilage canals, a region that develops into a secondary ossification center. In support of this finding, receptors were also localized on monolayer cultures of human infant costal chondrocytes. In 20- and 50-day-old rabbits, receptors were localized on reserve and proliferative chondrocytes in the growth plate. In 50- and 130-day-old rabbits receptors were localized on proliferative chondrocytes in the condylar cartilage. In older (180-day-old) rabbits with closed growth plates, GH receptors could not be detected, even in condylar cartilage. These results support the case for revision of the somatomedin hypothesis to accommodate a direct interaction between GH and receptors on epiphyseal chondrocytes.