Effect of ionic strength on the interaction of androgens with Sertoli cell nuclei.
Only 35-50% of the label accumulated after incubation of cultured Sertoli cells with 3H-testosterone was readily extractable with 0.4 M KCl during a 1 h exposure. The degree of extractability was relatively constant over the pH range 7.0-8.5 but could be increased by prolonged (15 h) exposure. While 0.1 M KCl extracted a measurable amount of label, 0.4 M KCl was significantly more efficient. Furthermore, a higher proportion of the material extracted with 0.4 M KCl was associated with macromolecular species. After a 45 min exposure to 3H-testosterone, the nuclear fraction contained primarily labeled testosterone and its 5 alpha-reduced metabolites. The relative distribution of these metabolites between salt-resistant and readily extractable forms varied between experiments. In contrast, 3H-R1881 (17 beta-hydroxy-17-methylestra-4,9,11-trien-3-one) remained essentially intact in the nuclear fraction but also was only 35% extractable with 0.4 M KCl. In conclusion, although the quantitative aspects of salt extractability appear to depend to some extent upon the extraction conditions, it is apparent that the Sertoli cell nuclear fraction accumulates a significant amount of androgen in a form which is relatively resistant to removal with 0.4 M KCl. The biological significance of this phenomenon remains to be established.
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004963:Estrenes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D051381:Rats; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D045165:Testosterone Congeners
D004963:Estrenes; D045165:Testosterone Congeners; D013739:Testosterone; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D012260:Ribonucleases