title: In vitro synthesis and release of inhibin in response to FSH stimulation by isolated segments of seminiferous tubules from normal adult male rats.
abstract: The production of inhibin by isolated segments of seminiferous tubules from adult male rats cultured in vitro was investigated using a heterologous specific radioimmunoassay. Increasing lengths of tubules (5, 10, 20 and 40 cm) maintained in culture for 4 or 5 days produced increasing amounts of inhibin in vitro. A dose-dependent increase in inhibin production was observed after stimulation with ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-s17 (0.1-1000 ng/ml). The tubule segments remain sensitive to FSH stimulation for up to 20 days of culture despite a progressive decline in basal inhibin production, resulting in an increase in the magnitude of the response to FSH stimulation between 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 days of culture. In the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (50 micrograms/ml), both basal and FSH-stimulated inhibin secretion are inhibited. Testosterone (10(-8)-10(-5) M) does not affect basal inhibin production, although inhibition of the FSH-induced production of inhibin occurred at only the highest dose of testosterone used (10(-5) M). These data demonstrate that the production of inhibin by segments of seminiferous tubules from adult male rats can be used to study the control of inhibin secretion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D003513:Cycloheximide