Proliferative phase sertoli cells display a developmentally regulated response to activin in vitro.
We have used cultures of highly purified, proliferating rat Sertoli cells collected from d 3, 6, and 9 rat pups to investigate the role of activin A on Sertoli cell division. These studies demonstrate that activin A acts directly on d 6 and 9, but not d 3, Sertoli cells to induce proliferation, both alone and synergistically with FSH. In addition to stimulating proliferation, activin A induces secretion of inhibins A and B as determined by specific ELISAs. We demonstrate that the synergy between activin A and FSH is not due to local actions of secreted inhibin or follistatin. We have used real-time fluorometric RT-PCR to demonstrate that activin regulates expression of activin receptor and follistatin mRNA by Sertoli cells. Saturation binding studies using (125)I-activin A indicate that synergy between activin and FSH may be due to increased numbers of activin receptors on the Sertoli cell. Finally, we show that activin A was secreted at high levels by cultured peritubular cells but was undetectable in high purity proliferating Sertoli cell cultures, suggesting that activin A functions as a paracrine factor during postnatal testis development.
Buzzard
Jeremy J
JJ
Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
Farnworth
Paul G
PG
De Kretser
David M
DM
O'Connor
Anne E
AE
Wreford
Nigel G
NG
Morrison
John R
JR
D029404:Activin Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007265:Inhibins / Q000378:metabolism; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000235:genetics; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011962:Receptors, FSH; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D028322:Inhibin-beta Subunits; D029404:Activin Receptors