Modulation of asialoglycoprotein binding activity in livers of pregnant or estrogen-treated rats.

This report deals with the modulation of activity and expression of the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor, in pregnant or diethylstilbestrol-treated rats. The results show a two-fold increase in the total cell associated binding activity, both in pregnant and in estrogen-treated animals, with respect to normal values. On the contrary the surface expression was shown to be strongly enhanced only in the liver of pregnant rat. Therefore the modulation shown by this receptor system in pregnancy seems to be only partially estrogen-dependent.