title: A novel hypothalamic peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide, modulates Sertoli cell function in vitro.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), a novel hypothalamic peptide that has been shown to exist in several tissues including the testis, was examined for its effects on cultured rat Sertoli cells. PACAP stimulates cAMP accumulation in Sertoli cells cultured from 15-day-old rats in the presence or absence of methylisobutylxanthine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and in the presence of pertussis toxin, a blocker of the adenylate cyclase inhibitory pathway. Maximal stimulation, which is 20-40% of that attainable with FSH, occurs at PACAP concentrations of 10 nM: the ED50 is approximately 100 pM. The ability of PACAP to stimulate Sertoli cell cAMP declines with increasing age of donor animals (15-60 days of age) in a fashion similar to the FSH effect. PACAP stimulation of Sertoli cell cAMP accumulation is additive with submaximal, but not maximal, concentrations of FSH or forskolin. PACAP also stimulates the secretion of lactate, estradiol, and inhibin in a concentration-dependent manner. The stimulation of Sertoli cell cAMP accumulation by PACAP is not altered by a vasoactive intestinal peptide antagonist, and vasoactive intestinal peptide alone does not stimulate cAMP accumulation, indicating that PACAP is not acting via vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors. Further experiments are needed to determine whether PACAP is synthesized within the testis and if so, in which cell types; however, the present data clearly demonstrate that PACAP can modulate Sertoli cell function in vitro.
authors.affiliation: National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Heindel
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Paschall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arimura
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Culler
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007773:Lactates / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D007773:Lactates; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; C048507:vasoactive intestinal peptide, 4-chloro-Phe(6)-Leu(17)-; D019344:Lactic Acid; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP