title: Non-classical effects of androgens on testes from neonatal rats.
abstract: The intratesticular testosterone concentration is high during the early postnatal period although the intracellular androgen receptor expression (iAR) is still absent in Sertoli cells (SCs). This study aimed to evaluate the non-classical effects of testosterone and epitestosterone on calcium uptake and the electrophysiological effects of testosterone (1μM) on SCs from rats on postnatal day (pnd) 3 and 4 with lack of expression of the iAR. In addition, crosstalk on the electrophysiological effects of testosterone and epitestosterone with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in SCs from 15-day-old rats was evaluated. The isotope (45)Ca(2+) was utilized to evaluate the effects of testosterone and epitestosterone in calcium uptake. The membrane potential of SCs was recorded using a standard single microelectrode technique. No immunoreaction concerning the iAR was observed in SCs on pnd 3 and 4. At this age, both testosterone and epitestosterone increased the (45)Ca(2+) uptake. Testosterone promoted membrane potential depolarization of SCs on pnd 4. FSH application followed by testosterone and epitestosterone reduced the depolarization of the two hormones. Application of epitestosterone 5 min after FSH resulted in a delay of epitestosterone-promoted depolarization. The cell resistance was also reduced. Thus, in SCs from neonatal Wistar rats, both testosterone and epitestosterone act through a non-classical mechanism stimulating calcium uptake in whole testes, and testosterone produces a depolarizing effect on SC membranes. Testosterone and epitestosterone stimulates non-classical actions via a membrane mechanism, which is independent of iAR. FSH and testosterone/epitestosterone affect each other's electrophysiological responses suggesting crosstalk between the intracellular signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Endocrinologia Experimental e Eletrofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Abreu
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: da Rosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Endocrinologia Experimental e Eletrofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Monteiro
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Escott
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Endocrinologia Experimental e Eletrofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Carvalho
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Cavalari
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Endocrinologia Experimental e Eletrofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clara Maria Müller
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Endocrinologia Experimental e Eletrofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciano Stürmer
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: de Fraga
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Endocrinologia Experimental e Eletrofisiologia, Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: eloss@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Eloísa da Silveira
authors.initials: Eda S
authors.lastname: Loss
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004845:Epitestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004845:Epitestosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Calcium uptake; Epitestosterone; FSH; Membrane potential; Sertoli cell; Testosterone