Prolactin effect on pre-pubertal Sertoli cell proliferation and metabolism.
Direct effects of PRL on Sertoli cell proliferation were investigated by using Sertoli cell primary cultures isolated from both prepubertal rat and porcine testes. PRL metabolic effects were analyzed in rat Sertoli cell primary cultures. Exposure to physiological doses of PRL resulted in a significant increase (+50-60%) of basal DNA synthesis, as reflected by the pattern of [3H] thymidine incorporation during culture; significant increases in lactate secretion (about 50%), androgen binding protein (ABP) production (about 30%) and basal protein synthesis (25-30%), as reflected in the augmented [14C] valine incorporation, were also evident. Taken together, our present findings, indicating significant effects of PRL on Sertoli cell proliferation and metabolism, demonstrate that Sertoli cells are a potential target for PRL action at testicular level during pre-pubertal development.
Scarabelli
L
L
Department of Experimental, Environmental and Applied Biology, Section of General and Compared Physiology, University of Genova, Genova, Italy. lindas@unige.it
Caviglia
D
D
Bottazzi
C
C
Palmero
S
S
D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011388:Prolactin; D004247:DNA; D013936:Thymidine