NOVEL EXPRESSION OF LUTEINIZING-HORMONE CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN RECEPTOR GENE IN RAT PROSTATES

The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified an expected 255 bp luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LH/CG) receptor sequence from rat prostates. Northern blotting demonstrated that prostates contain 4.3, 3.3, 2.6, 1.8, 0.8 and 0.2 kb LH/CG recept or transcripts. Western immunoblotting and ligand blotting demonstrate d that prostates also contain an 80 kDa receptor protein which can bin d I-125-labeled hCG and this binding was inhibited by excess unlabeled hCG. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry revealed that whil e the receptors are most abundant in epithelial cells, they are scarce ly found in the stroma. The ventral lobe contained more receptors than the lateral lobe and the receptors in peripheral acini of the ventral lobe are higher which progressively decreased towards central acini. In summary, prostate glands express LH/CG receptor gene. The cellular, topographical and lobular distribution of receptors suggest that LH m ay directly regulate prostate functions.