We have studied the species and tissue expression of the 68kD sulfogalactolipid binding protein SLIP 1, originally detected in the male germ cells of the rat (Lingwood: Can. J. Biochem. Cell Biol., 63:1077-1085, 1985). Our results show that SLIP 1 has been highly conserved during evolution and is found in the testes of all vertebrates tested. In studies in the rat, we have found that SLIP 1 is, however, tissue restricted, being found only in the brain (also a major site of sulfogalactolipid biosynthesis) in addition to the testis. SLIP 1 was also detected in mammalian oocytes. The SLIP 1 species detected in brain and oocytes retain the sulfogalactolipid-binding characteristics of rat testicular SLIP 1, indicating that, in addition to immunological features, the glycolipid-binding function of SLIP 1 is conserved in these tissues.