FSH stimulation of the production of pyruvate and lactate by rat Sertoli cells may be involved in hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis

Abstract

Sertoli cells were obtained from 3\p=n-\6-week-oldrats, which were sterile after prenatal irradiation. The production of lactate by these Sertoli cells, measured 24\p=n-\48h after isolation during incubation in the absence of hormones, increased with age of the rats from 3 to 6 weeks. At all ages investigated, the production of lactate was enhanced in the presence of FSH plus testosterone, but the stimulation was most pronounced at 4 weeks of age. Lactate production was increased by FSH alone but testosterone had no effect in the presence or absence of FSH. Sertoli cells from 4-week-old rats produced both pyruvate and lactate, which accumulated in the incubation medium in a ratio of 1:4. The stimulation of the production of pyruvate and lactate by FSH was dose\x=req-\ dependent (ED50 at~10 ng NIH-FSH-S13/ml). The production of pyruvate and lactate was stimulated 2-fold by insulin, 4-fold by FSH and > 6-fold by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine). The effects of FSH (0\m=.\5\ g=m\ g NIH-FSH-S13/ml) and insulin (5 \g=m\g/ml) were not additive.Leucine incorporation into isolated pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids was stimulated by exogenous pyruvate and lactate in a dose-dependent way : maximal incorporation was obtained with 0\m=.\2 mM-pyruvate or 2 mM L-lactate. Spent medium from incubated Sertoli cells (from 4-week-old rats) stimulated the leucine incorporation into isolated pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids 4\p=n-\8-fold.This effect could be explained by the amounts of pyruvate and lactate present in the spent medium. It is suggested that pyruvate and lactate are major products from Sertoli cells which can support synthetic activities in germ cells, and the present results indicate that pyruvate and lactate may play a role in the hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis.

Effect of lead acetate on Sertoli cell lactate production and protein synthesis in vitro

“…Spermatogenesis is a complicated process involving both structural (Russell, 1980) and functional (Jutte et al, 1981;Jutte et al, 1983;Boltani et al, 1983) interactions between Sertoli cells and germ cells within the seminiferous tubules.…”

“…It is known that many metabolic products of Sertoli cells are required by the developing spermatogenic cells (Jutte et al, 1981;Jutte et al, 1983), and therefore may be a possible target through which lead might inhibit the process of spermatogenesis.…”

“…Three parameters of Sertoli cell function were studied: lactate production, protein synthesis, and morphology. Lactate is an essential substrate for spermatogenesis that is produced by Sertoli cells and utilized by the developing germ cells (Jutte et al, 1983). Protein synthesis may be considered a general indicator of cell function.…”

Effect of FSH and insulin on lipogenesis in cultures of Sertoli cells from immature rats

“…Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity was not affected by any of the hormones tested. When Sertoli cells from 19-day old rats were incubated with [1,[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] C]acetate for 90 or 360 min, the [ 14 C] label was present predominantly in triglyceride and phospholipid fractions with minor amounts in other lipids. In Sertoli cells pretreated for 16 h with insulin and FSH, an increase in acetate incorporation into lipids was observed.…”

“…The hormonal control of glycide metabolism in Sertoli cells is well known. In immature rats, folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) regulates the production of lactate, a preferential energy substrate for pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids (7,8). Oonk et al (9) showed that insulin increases the rate of lactate production in vitro.…”