Germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions and production of testosterone by purified Leydig cells from mature rat.
The addition of seminiferous tubule (ST) culture medium (STM) prepared from testes of either busulfan-treated (Bus) or cryptorchid (Cryp) or genetically sterile (hd) rats, to Percoll purified Leydig cells leads to a further increase of LH-stimulated testosterone (T) output (26, 43 and 14%, respectively). Taking into account that the Sertoli cell number per cm of ST is 2.6, 1.8 and 1.4-fold greater in Bus, Cryp and hd rats than in controls, the above STM effects on T output, expressed per 10(6) Sertoli cells are in fact lower (63, 44 and 43%, respectively) that those of control STM. Similar results have been obtained for the STM transferrin levels which are decreased, 74, 67 and 45%, respectively in Bus, Cryp and hd animals. So, it is likely that the Sertoli cell secretion of both the paracrine factor involved on Leydig cell T production and the transferrin is influenced mainly by spermatids and to a lesser extent by spermatocytes of mature rat testis.
URA C.N.R.S., CHU Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
N
N
Boujrad
J M
JM
Guillaumin
P
P
Bardos
M T
MT
Hochereau de Reviers
M A
MA
Drosdowsky
S
S
Carreau
D000818:Animals; D002066:Busulfan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003456:Cryptorchidism; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012016:Reference Values; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002066:Busulfan