Follicle-stimulating hormone induces transient expression of the protooncogene c-fos in primary Sertoli cell cultures.
The expression of the protooncogene c-fos has been associated with the transduction of cell surface stimuli into changes in nuclear function. To evaluate the possibility that this protooncogene plays a role in the gonadotropin-dependent gene regulation, the effect of FSH on the expression of c-fos was studied in primary Sertoli cell cultures. Sertoli cells were stimulated for different time intervals with FSH and c-fos mRNA levels measured by Northern RNA blot analysis. FSH treatment increased c-fos mRNA transiently with a maximal stimulation reached in 1 h. The level of c-fos mRNA returned to basal level within 4-6 h. The induction of c-fos mRNA was dependent on the concentration of FSH used with an ED50 of 3-5 ng/ml ovine FSH-16. A similar increase in c-fos expression was induced with highly purified hFSH. The c-fos mRNA was also elevated after treatment of the Sertoli cell with (Bu)2cAMP and forskolin. (Bu)2cAMP treatment led to a sustained induction of c-fos mRNA, with increased mRNA levels being maintained after 12 h. The FSH-dependent induction of c-fos mRNA was still present in cells treated for 3 h with cycloheximide, but it was greatly reduced by actinomycin D pretreatment. These data indicate that FSH induces a transient expression of c-fos in cultured Sertoli cells. This induction is probably mediated by cAMP and likely involves an increased transcription of the c-fos gene. Early expression of this gene might be an intermediate step required for gonadotropin-dependent regulation of expression of other genes.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone