Tri-iodothyronine directly affects rat Sertoli cell proliferation and differentiation.
The addition of physiological concentrations (1 nM) of tri-iodothyronine (T3) to the culture medium of Sertoli cells from prepubertal (8-day-old) rats stimulated both protein synthesis (+55%) and lactate (+50%) production, while it inhibited DNA synthesis (-30/35%) and aromatase activity (-45/50%); insignificant T3-dependent effects were observed in cultured Sertoli cells from midpubertal (28-day-old) rats. These data suggest an age-dependent role for thyroid hormone in promoting and maintaining Sertoli cell differentiation at puberty; more-over, the hormone is involved in the regulation of Sertoli cell proliferation. The present study validates the role of Sertoli cells as a specific target for T3 action at the testis level; it also demonstrates the existence of an early and critical direct influence of thyroid hormone on Sertoli cell proliferation and functional maturation.
Palmero
S
S
Istituto di Fisiologia Generale, Università di Genova, Italy.
Prati
M
M
Bolla
F
F
Fugassa
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007773:Lactates; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D019344:Lactic Acid; D004247:DNA; D001141:Aromatase