Synthesis of extracellular matrix components by somatic testicular cells from immature and pubertal rats.
Total testicular cells derived from immature and pubertal rats were cultured under long-term conditions. Somatic adherent cells proliferated in culture and produced collagen and proteoglycans. Collagen synthesis accounted for 25% and 5% of total protein synthesized by adherent cells derived from immature, and pubertal rats, respectively. Proteoglycan synthesis was higher in cells from immature than from pubertal rats. The proportion of different types of glycosaminoglycan chains (particularly hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate) also varied according to the age of the donor. The results suggest that the synthesis of extracellular matrix components by somatic testicular cells is an age-related process which probably plays an active role in spermatogenesis.
Unidad de Biología Celular, Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Chile.
J P
JP
Rodríguez
J J
JJ
Minguell
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D011509:Proteoglycans; D013739:Testosterone; D003094:Collagen