The interaction of rat ovarian receptors with lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) in vitro was rapid and reversible. The degree of binding was saturable and susceptible to changes in the concentration of lutropin in the medium. The concentration of lutropin receptors in the ovary increases during the natural pubertal period and also in immature rats given pregnant-mare-serum gonadotropin and human choriogonadotropin. In the latter case, the increase in lutropin receptor, after injection of pregnant-mare-serum gonadotropin alone, could be detected only if the ovaries are freed of the bound gonadotropin before exposure to lutropin. The concentration of lutropin receptors was higher in the luteal compartment of the ovary than in the non-luteal parts and increased slightly in aged corpora lutea. Correlation between binding of lutropin to the ovary and the ovarian response to lutropin in terms of cyclic AMP production was found only in prepubertal rat ovaries and in young corpora lutea and not in aged corpora lutea, suggesting the non-equivalence of binding in vitro and ovarian response.
