Expression and regulation of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) receptors in a rat insulin producing cell line (INS-1).

We have examined the expression of growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) receptors, and the binding parameters of human GH (hGH), on the rat insulin producing cell line INS-1. We found that, like normal insulin producing beta-cells, INS-1 cells express both GH and PRL receptors, and the majority of human GH (hGH) binding sites on this cell line are of lactogenic specificity. As calculated from Scatchard plots, about 6600 hGH binding sites with a Ka of 6.2 x 10(8) M-1 are present per cell. Northern blot analysis showed two mRNA species of 4 and 1.6 kb for the GH receptor and, one major species of 10.5 kb for the PRL receptor. The PRL receptor mRNA was up-regulated by bovine GH (bGH), rat PRL (rPRL), in a time- and dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, bGH and rPRL, down-regulated the expression of GH receptor gene. The importance of this differential regulation in in vivo and in vitro studies are discussed.