Radiation effect on rat Sertoli cell function in vitro and in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the response of Sertoli cell function to 60Co gamma-rays.


METHODS
Rat Sertoli cells were exposed in vitro and in vivo to 60Co gamma-rays in the dose range 3 Gy to 48 Gy and at 3 Gy and 6 Gy respectively. Cell viability and transferrin and IL-6 production were measured at different times following irradiation.


RESULTS
This study confirms the resistance of in vitro irradiated rat Sertoli cells in the dose range 3 Gy to 48 Gy in terms of cell number. Radiation had no effect on the IL-1 activity of Sertoli cells. However, the experiments show that despite the absence of a macroscopic effect, Sertoli cells respond to ionizing radiation by increasing transferrin secretion, transferrin response to (Bu)2cAMP stimulation and IL-6 activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Transferrin is involved in the transport of iron into germ cells and in cell differentiation. IL-6 is a potent inhibitor of meiotic DNA synthesis. Radio-induced transferrin and IL-6 could play a role in the protection of germ cells and could explain, in part, the resistance of Sertoli cells to radiation.
Guitton
N
N
Groupe d'Etude de la Reproduction chez le Mâle (GERM), INSERM U. 435, Université de Rennes I, Bretagne, France.
Brouazin-Jousseaume
V
V
Dupaix
A
A
Jégou
B
B
Chenal
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005720:Gamma Rays; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000096:biosynthesis
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014168:Transferrin