Age-dependent changes in the in-vitro response of a pig Sertoli cell-enriched population to FSH.
The response of pig Sertoli cell-enriched cultures to FSH was investigated by measuring plasminogen activator (PA) secretion in culture, throughout the nonpubertal and prepubertal periods. Sertoli cell-enriched populations could be isolated from birth until a testicular weight of 56 g. FSH elicited a dose-dependent increase in PA secretion by pig Sertoli cell-enriched cultures. The ED50 was minimal for cells coming from testes weighing 10-22 g, and increased more than 2-fold for cells from heavier testes. This suggests that, at the end of the non-pubertal period, an increased FSH sensitivity is important for initiation of spermatogenesis in this species, and that during the prepubertal period Sertoli cells become less sensitive to FSH. The FSH-stimulated PA secretion increased about 10-fold from a testicular weight of 25 g onwards, i.e. when primary spermatocytes appear in seminiferous tubules.
Monet-Kuntz
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Unité Endocrinologie de la gamétogenèse, INRA Station de physiologie de la reproduction, CNRS URA 234, Nouzilly, Monnaie, France.
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D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013552:Swine
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D010960:Plasminogen Activators