The soluble form of the insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor, which has been detected in serum from a variety of species, is synthesized and released by rat tissue explants in culture. Investigations into its regulation and function, however, have been hampered by inadequate means of quantification. In this paper a RIA that enables sensitive and specific quantification of soluble receptor from serum and conditioned medium is described. In order to further clarify the source of soluble receptor in serum and to determine whether release of receptor from rat tissues is under developmental regulation, receptor release from rat explants was examined and compared to serum levels of receptor. Heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, and liver explants from fetal, neonatal, weanling, and adult rats were cultured in serum-free medium, and the conditioned medium was analyzed by RIA for the presence of receptor. Soluble receptor release was highest for fetal and neonatal tissues, with weanling and adult tissues showing dramatically decreased levels. Release of soluble receptor varied between tissues, with the tissue-specific pattern altering during development, such that while heart and muscle appeared as major tissues of release in fetal animals, the liver was the tissue of highest release in adult animals. It is concluded that release of soluble receptor by rat tissues is developmentally regulated, with levels of receptor in serum reflecting the pattern of release from tissues. The RIA will prove a useful tool for further examination of the regulation and function of the soluble insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor.