Rat testes interstitial cell nuclei exhibit three distinct receptors for retinoic acid.

Purified nuclei from rat testes interstitial cells were incubated with an equimolar complex of [3H]retinoic acid and purified cellular retinoic acid-binding protein (cRABP) and with ATP. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and radiofluorographic analysis of the nuclear fractions indicated the presence of 3 highly labeled receptors for retinoic acid which were distinct from cRABP. These data demonstrate that retinoic acid binds to 3 novel nuclear acceptors of which cRABP does not appear to be a part.