Using primary cultures of porcine Sertoli cells as a model, the effects of ovine prolactin (oPRL) on Sertoli cell function were investigated through FSH binding. PRL treatment (0.3-5 ng/ml) induced a dose-dependent increase (ED50 = 5.10(-11) M) of 125I-FSH binding to Sertoli cells to a maximal stimulation (about 2.5-fold increase). This effect was time-dependent, being detected within 2 h (P < 0.02) after oPRL treatment and was maximal after 24 h. The effect of oPRL is probably mediated via specific PRL receptors identified by different approaches such as immunohistochemistry, binding assays and cross-linking experiments. Immunohistochemical experiments were performed using two antibodies directed against the PRL receptor. Immunoreactivity was detected both in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm and in the perinuclear area. Scatchard plots of binding studies revealed the presence of specific binding sites for PRL both in the Sertoli cell membranes and nuclear fractions with high affinity constants (Kd = 0.8 and 1.4 nM, respectively). Affinity labeling of these receptors by covalently binding to 125I-oPRL and subsequent electrophoretic analysis of the labeled complexes revealed for the cell membranes, two major labeled bands of 74 and 64 kDa and three other faintly labeled bands of 190, 150 and 140 kDa. For the nuclear fractions, three major labeled bands with high molecular weights of 190, 150 and 140 kDa were observed. Taken together, the present findings suggest that Sertoli cells are potential targets for prolactin action in the porcine testis.