Electrophysiological changes of Sertoli cells produced by the acute administration of amino acid and FSH.
Electrophysiological studies were carried out using seminiferous tubules of "Sertoli cell enriched testes" of rats irradiated in utero. Sertoli cells were inserted with glass microelectrodes in a superfusion chamber continuously perfused with KRb buffer. The topical application of FSH (4.0 mU/ml) produced a biphasic effect characterized by a rapid hyperpolarization (less than 3 s) followed by depolarization. The depolarizing effect of FSH was prolonged and potentiated in the presence of 5 mmol/l alpha-methylamino-isobutyric acid in the bath medium of the superfusion chamber. Verapamil, at a dose (250 mumol/l) that nullified the stimulatory action of FSH in the amino acid transport, suppressed the depolarizing effect of FSH. It was concluded that in immature rat testes FSH produces electrophysiological changes that mediate the stimulatory action of the amino acid transport.
Wassermann
G F
GF
Center of Experimental Endocrinology, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Monti Bloch
L
L
Grillo
M L
ML
Silva
F R
FR
Loss
E S
ES
McConnell
L L
LL
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
D000596:Amino Acids; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D014700:Verapamil