title: Properties and localization of endothelin-1-specific receptors in rat testicles.
abstract: The characterization and localization of rat testicular endothelin receptors were studied. Receptor binding assay with radiolabeled members of the endothelin family revealed that endothelin-1-specific receptors were present in rat testes; a maximal binding capacity of 250 +/- 62 fmol/mg protein and a dissociation constant value of 0.35 +/- 0.06 nM were calculated from the Scatchard plot. The affinities for endothelin analogues were endothelin-1 = endothelin-2 much greater than endothelin-3 much greater big endothelin-1 for the membrane-bound receptors. Receptors of endothelin-1 were localized in peritubular myoid cells and interstitial cells of rat testis by 125I-labeled endothelin-1 autoradiography; the receptors were undetectable in spermatogenic cells. The presence of endothelin-1 receptors in the rat testis raises the possibility that one or more of the endothelins may play a physiological role in the regulation of testicular function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kozuka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D008024:Ligands; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin