We have reported previously that murine mammary tumor cell subpopulations isolated from one spontaneous adenocarcinorna are heterogenous in terms of prostaglandin EL (PGEJ synthetic capacity. We have also shown that tumor-PGE2 contributes to the ability of these cells to grow and metastasize in vivo (Fulton and Heppner: Cancer Research 45:4779-4784, 1985). In the present study, we have asked whether exogenous PGEL has direct effects on the proliferation of these cells in vitro and if such responses can be attributed to the capacity of these cells to 1 ) bind PGE2 and 2) activate adenylate cyclase via the PGEL receptor. We report that PGE2, at concentrations below 1 x M, does not affect the proliferation rate of these cells. This unresponsiveness is not due to the absence of receptors for PGE2. However, marked heterogeneity in receptor binding and function was detected in these closely related cell lines. Two metastatic lines (66 and 410.4) have high-affinity receptors for PGE2 (average Kd = 4.3 x 10-' MIL and 4.2 x lo-' M/L, respectively) and similar binding capacities (4.1 x l o 4 and 2.9 x 1 O4 binding sites, respectively). Two nonrnetastatic lines, 41 0 and 67, have receptors with lower affinity (Kd=8.3 x lo-' MIL and 1.6 x lo-' MIL, respectively) and binding capacities of 2.8 x 105/410 cell or 7.3 x 104/67 cell. A third nonmetastatic line (1 68) exhibits no specific binding. PGEL receptor stimulation leads to elevated intracellular CAMP in lines 66, 410, and 67. Line 410.4 cells appear to have a functional lesion in the PGEl receptor resulting in a failure to elevate CAMP in response to receptor occupancy. Adenylate cyclase can, however, be activated in these cells by cholera toxin, NaF, or forskolin. In comparison to the other cell lines, line 168 cells respond poorly to all CAMPstimulating agents. Thus, we have found that PGEL binding i s a heterogenous property for these cells, and, in addition, we have identified an apparent uncoupling of PGEL receptor to the adenylate cyclase system in one cell line.