Follicle-stimulating hormone-independent functions of primate Sertoli cells: potential implications in the diagnosis and management of male infertility.
BACKGROUND
FSH is known to augment the production of essential germ cell (Gc) survival factors, lactate and estradiol, by Sertoli cells (Sc) of 18-d-old pubertal rats. However, the failure of gonadotropin and androgen treatment to initiate spermatogenesis in testis of some infertile men bearing Sc and Gc is intriguing. The role of FSH in regulation of lactate and estradiol production by primate Sc is currently unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine the role of FSH in regulating lactate and estradiol production by primate Sc.


METHODS
Gc differentiation was initiated in male juvenile rhesus monkeys by pulsatile administration of GnRH for 4-5 wk. Sc from these pseudopubertal monkeys and pubertal rats were cultured. Production of lactate and estradiol in response to FSH and 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP was evaluated. Inhibin-betaB expression, cAMP production, and cell proliferation were also assayed.


RESULTS
Unlike Sc from pubertal rats, Sc from pseudopubertal monkeys constitutively aromatized testosterone to estradiol and produced large amounts of lactate without FSH stimulation. Increasing doses of recombinant monkey FSH or 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP failed to augment lactate production, although they significantly augmented proliferation of Sc. Production of cAMP and expression of inhibin-betaB mRNA were also remarkably augmented by recombinant monkey FSH.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that lactate and estradiol production by monkey Sc is not governed by FSH, as previously thought based on studies of rat Sc. Thus, in a clinical situation, assessment of such gonadotropin-independent functions of Sc may be obligatory for the diagnosis and management of certain forms of idiopathic male infertility.
Devi
Yendrembam Sangeeta
YS
Division of Cellular Endocrinology, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, India.
Sarda
Kanchan
K
Stephen
Benjamin
B
Nagarajan
P
P
Majumdar
Subeer S
SS
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D007773:Lactates; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D001141:Aromatase