The present study constitutes the characterization of a specific, high-affinity GH-binding protein (GHBP) in the serum of a teleost, the goldfish (Carassius auratus). GH-binding assay and ligand blotting techniques were employed to identify GHBPs in goldfish serum and hepatocyte culture medium. The binding characteristics and apparent molecular weights (Mr) of goldfish GHBPs were also compared with those of rabbit and rat. LIGAND analysis identified a single class of high-affinity and low-capacity binding sites for iodinated recombinant carp GH (rcGH) in the goldfish serum, with an association constant (Ka) of 20.1x10(9) M-1 and a maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of 161 fmol ml-1 serum. A single class of binding sites for iodinated recombinant sea bream GH and bovine GH (bGH) was also found in goldfish serum, but with a much lower affinity than that of rcGH. The binding affinity for iodinated bGH in rabbit and rat sera was found to be similar to that reported previously. Ligand blotting revealed multiple forms of GHBPs in sera of goldfish, rabbit and rat with Mr ranging from 70 kDa to 400 kDa and 27 kDa to 240 kDa under non-reducing and reducing conditions respectively. A prominent band with Mr of 66 kDa and a minor band with Mr of 27 kDa were observed to occur in sera from all three species under reducing conditions. Iodoacetamide promoted the shedding of three GHBPs with Mr of 25, 40 and 45 kDa from the cultured goldfish hepatocytes. The appearance of all bands was completely inhibited by the presence of excess unlabeled rcGH. Our results provide clear evidence that a GHBP exists in the goldfish and indicate that more information on teleost GHBPs is needed if the physiology of growth in teleosts is to be fully understood.