Effects of estrogen and testosterone on specific prolactin binding in the kidneys and adrenal of rats.

The effects of estradiol benzoate in the female rat, testosterone propionate in the male rat, and castration in both sexes on specific prolactin binding sites in the particulate membranes of the kidneys and adrenals were studied. Castration resulted in a significant increase in PRL binding activity in the kidneys of both males and females, and in a significant increase in PRL binding activity in the adrenals of the females. The increase in PRL binding with castration and the decrease seen with testosterone treatment were similar in both immature and mature rats. Progesterone administration to castrate females failed to alter PRL binding in both tissues. The present results suggest that estrogen and testosterone participate in the PRL osmoregulatory system in rat.