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Title: Characterization of insulin-like growth factor I receptors in the median eminence of the brain and their modulation by food restriction

Journal Article · · Endocrinology; (United States)

High affinity binding sites for 125I-labeled (Thr59)insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were measured in rat median eminence by in vitro autoradiography with slide-mounted sections of frozen rat brain. Specific binding of 0.1 nM iodo-(Thr59)IGF-I to brain slices reached maximum by 12 h at 4 C and was unchanged at 24 h. Densitometry by computer digital image analysis of autoradiographic images indicated that specific binding of iodo-(Thr59)IGF-I to the median eminence was reversible. The specificity of binding was evaluated with competition of iodo-(Thr59)IGF-I with unlabeled (Thr59)IGF-I, rat IGF-II (multiplication-stimulating activity), and porcine insulin. All were recognized by the binding site, but the rank order of potency was (Thr59)IGF-I greater than IGF-II greater than insulin. Somatostatin was completely ineffective. Further, an antibody against the rat IGF-II receptor did not block binding of iodo-(Thr59)IGF-I to the median eminence. Fourteen days of food restriction (75% of food intake of controls) resulted in significant weight loss and reduction of plasma immunoreactive IGF-I in six food-restricted rats (0.9 +/- 0.1 U/ml) compared with values in six controls (2.6 +/- 0.5 U/ml; P less than 0.001). Binding of 125I-labeled (Thr59)IGF-I in the median eminence was significantly increased in the food-restricted rats, primarily due to an increase in the concentration of iodo-(Thr59)IGF-I-binding sites in the median eminence; the affinity (Kd) of binding was unchanged. The results indicate that the median eminence has type I IGF-I receptors, which become more numerous under metabolic conditions associated with decreased caloric intake and lowered plasma IGF-I levels.

Research Organization:
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Seattle, WA (USA)
OSTI ID:
7196270
Journal Information:
Endocrinology; (United States), Vol. 122:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English