Response of Adult Rat Sertoli Cells and Leydig Cells to Depletion of Luteinizing Hormone and Testosterone

ABSTRACT Production of testosterone and oestradiol-17β by Leydig cells from adult rats was stimulated by LH or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10 and 2·5-fold respectively). The addition of spent medium from normal, hemicastrated or γ-irradiated rat seminiferous tubule cultures, as well as from Sertoli cell cultures, to purified Leydig cells further enhanced both basal (44 and 53% for testosterone and oestradiol-17β respectively) and LH-stimulated (56 and 18%) steroid output. Simultaneously, a decrease (20–30%) in intracellular cyclic AMP levels was observed. This stimulating factor (or factors) secreted by the Sertoli cells is different from LHRH, is of proteinic nature and has a molecular weight ranging between 10 000 and 50 000; its synthesis is not controlled by FSH nor by testosterone. This factor(s) involved in rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis, at a step beyond the adenylate cyclase, does not require protein synthesis for testosterone formation whereas it does for oestradiol-17β production. It should be noted that a germ cell–Sertoli cell interaction modulates the synthesis of this factor(s). J. Endocr. (1987) 114, 459–467

Download Full-text

Diethylstilbestrol induces morphological changes in the spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of adult rat

Research in Veterinary Science ◽

10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.04.015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 124 ◽

pp. 433-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Md. Mahfujur Rahman ◽

Jehyung Wie ◽

Jeong-Hwi Cho ◽

Hyun-Jin Tae ◽

Dongchoon Ahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sertoli Cells ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Adult Rat

Download Full-text

The effect of chronic luteinizing hormone treatment on adult rat Leydig cells

Tissue and Cell ◽

10.1016/s0040-8166(98)80007-4 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 64-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

S.M.L.C. Mendis-Handagama ◽

P.A. Watkins ◽

T.J. Scallen

Keyword(s):

Luteinizing Hormone ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Hormone Treatment ◽

Adult Rat

Download Full-text

Peroxisomes and intracellular cholesterol trafficking in adult rat Leydig cells following Luteinizing hormone stimulation

Tissue and Cell ◽

10.1054/tice.1999.0092 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 102-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

S.M.L.C. Mendis-Handagama

Keyword(s):

Luteinizing Hormone ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Cholesterol Trafficking ◽

Hormone Stimulation ◽

Adult Rat ◽

Intracellular Cholesterol

Download Full-text

Endothelin-1: a new autocrine/paracrine factor in rat testis

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.1993.265.2.e267 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 265 (2) ◽

pp. E267-E274 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. Fantoni ◽

P. L. Morris ◽

G. Forti ◽

G. B. Vannelli ◽

C. Orlando ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sertoli Cells ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Positive Staining ◽

Paracrine Factor ◽

High Concentration ◽

Rat Testis ◽

Endothelin 1 ◽

Adult Rat ◽

Old Rats

Cultured Sertoli cells of 20-day-old rats were found to produce and release endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity (ET-1-LI) under follicle-stimulating hormone control. The elution profile of ET-1-LI from extracts of spent Sertoli cell culture medium corresponds to that of synthetic ET-1, suggesting a testicular production of authentic ET-1. In contrast, the conditioned medium from rat Leydig cells did not contain ET-1-LI. Immunohistochemical studies confirmed that, in 20-day-old rats, the positive staining was confined to some Sertoli cells, whereas interstitial cells were negative. In the adult rat testis the positivity was not limited to the tubular compartment (Sertoli cells) but was also present in the interstitium. A high concentration (13 pmol/mg protein) of high-affinity (dissociation constant = 0.6 nM) 125I-labeled ET-1 binding sites was present in Leydig cells. These sites bind ET-1 and ET-2 with 1,000-fold higher affinity than ET-3, suggesting that they correspond to the subtype ETA of the ET receptors. Specific 125I-ET-1 binding sites are present also in Sertoli cells but are 50-fold less concentrated than in Leydig cells. Our results suggest an autocrine/paracrine role for ET-1 in rat testis.

Download Full-text

Sex-dependent expression of a transcription factor, Ad4BP, regulating steroidogenic P-450 genes in the gonads during prenatal and postnatal rat development

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.120.10.2787 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 120 (10) ◽

pp. 2787-2797 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

O. Hatano ◽

K. Takayama ◽

T. Imai ◽

M.R. Waterman ◽

A. Takakusu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Sertoli Cells ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Adrenal Glands ◽

Postnatal Life ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Adult Rat ◽

Sexually Dimorphic Expression ◽

Immunohistochemical Studies

We investigated the expression of Ad4BP (also known as SF-1), a transcription factor regulating steroidogenic P-450 genes, in the steroidogenic tissues such as adrenal glands, testes and ovaries through the prenatal and postnatal life of rats. Ad4BP was detected in the primordial adrenal glands and gonads of the 13.5 day postcoitum (d.p.c.) fetus. After the appearance of Ad4BP, a steroidogenic P-450 (P-450(SCC)) was also detected in the adrenal glands and its amount increased gradually. In the fetal gonads of 14.5 d.p.c., a significant amount of Ad4BP was detected in the somatic cells of the testes, whereas only a trace amount was present in the ovaries. The sexually dimorphic expression of Ad4BP continued throughout the neonatal age. Drastic alterations occurred during the first to third week of postnatal age accompanied by functional and structural changes of the gonads. The expression of Ad4BP in the testes attained a maximal level one week after birth and decreased markedly thereafter. By contrast, increase of Ad4BP in the ovary was detected after the first postnatal week. Expression of P-450c17 showed a good correlation with the proliferation of Leydig cells in the testes and theca cells in the ovaries. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of Ad4BP in Sertoli cells as well as Leydig cells up to the pubertal age. In the adult rat testis, however, staining of Sertoli cells decreased significantly. Ad4BP was detected in granulosa, theca, corpus luteum and interstitial gland cells in the ovary although the expression levels in granulosa cells varied among follicles. It is suggested that the Mullerian inhibitory substance gene may be a target of Ad4BP since this gene has a conserved Ad4-binding site within the promoter, which is recognized by Ad4BP expressed in the fetal testes.

Download Full-text

Isolation of rat Leydig cells and precursor forms after administration of ethane dimethane sulfonate

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.1994.266.6.e975 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 266 (6) ◽

pp. E975-E979 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. P. Risbridger ◽

A. Davies

Keyword(s):

Luteinizing Hormone ◽

Cell Population ◽

Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽

Leydig Cell ◽

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Steroid Production ◽

Microscopic Appearance ◽

Rat Testis ◽

Adult Rat

The cytotoxic drug ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS) has been extensively used as a means of studying the regeneration of Leydig cells in the adult rat testis. This study used the EDS-treated rat testis as a source of material for the isolation of regenerating Leydig cells and their precursors and describes the procedures required for the isolation of these cell preparations. As early as 13-15 days after EDS, cells in the precursor fraction can bind low, but detectable, levels of iodinated purified human chorionic gonadotropin. However, no luteinizing hormone (LH) response was detected in terms of steroid production. The precursor fraction of cells isolated from the EDS-treated rat testis 17-19 days after the administration of EDS was heterogeneous in light-microscopic appearance, but identifiable Leydig-like cells were present. The cells in this fraction were the first to exhibit the ability to respond to LH with the production of detectable levels of the reduced androgen, 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol. The amount of androgen produced by both the Leydig cell and precursor fractions had increased by 21 days after EDS and reached the levels produced by immature adultlike Leydig cells, which can be isolated from the 20-day-old rat testes. These studies demonstrate that steroidogenically responsive precursor forms of Leydig cells can be isolated from the EDS-treated testes 17-19 days after depletion of the adult Leydig cell population.

Download Full-text