Changes in ovarian β-adrenergic receptors during the estrous cycle of the rat

Abstract

Scatchard plot analyses of [3H]-dihydroalprenolol binding to rat ovarian membranes revealed that the rat ovary contains a single class of specific, high affinity β-adrenergic receptors which vary significantly during the estrous cycle. Receptor concentrations are highest during proestrus, fall to 50% of proestrus levels in the morning of estrus (P<0.001), then increase to near proestrus levels during metestrus and diestrus. There is no change in receptor affinity during the estrous cycle (KD = 2.2 ± 0.1 x 10-9M). These results indicate that ovarian function may be influenced directly by catecholamines of either a neural or adrenal origin.