Properties of the binding of follicle-stimulating hormone to the fetal rat testis

Basic properties of the binding of [131I]-labeled rat FSH ([131I]rFSH) to the testicular homogenates of fetal rats were analyzed by micro-radioreceptor assay. Specific binding of FSH was detectable in the testicular preparations from 15.5-day fetuses, but it was very low. After 17.5 days of gestation, specific FSH binding was apparent in the testis and was effectively displaced by rat FSH but not by rat LH. The Scatchard plot analyses of the binding of FSH to the testicular preparations of fetuses showed straight lines similar to those of postnatal rats, suggesting the presence of a single class of binding sites. The mean dissociation constant (Kd) for FSH receptors in 17.5-day fetuses was 0.413 +/- 0.043 nM, which was significantly greater than that in postnatal rats at 50 days of age. However, the Kd in 19.5-day fetuses was not significantly different from those in 17.5-day fetuses and postnatal rats due to its considerable variance. The capacity of FSH binding sites was 0.51 +/- 0.01 fmol/testis in 17.5-day fetuses, which was significantly less than those of 19.5-day fetuses and postnatal rats.