AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 248, Issue 2 176-E181, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Cultured Sertoli cell-mediated FSH stimulatory effect on Leydig cell steroidogenesis
M. Benahmed, J. Reventos, E. Tabone and J. M. Saez
To determine the precise role of Sertoli cells in the stimulating effects
of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) on Leydig cell activity, porcine
purified Leydig and Sertoli cells were cultured separately or together in a
chemically defined medium in the absence or presence of porcine, FSH 50
ng/ml. Leydig cell activity was evaluated using two parameters: human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) binding sites; and hCG-stimulated cAMP
production and testosterone secretion. First, it was found that FSH
increases Leydig cell activity in crude Leydig cell preparations (40-60% of
Leydig cells), whereas it exerts no effect on purified Leydig cells
(greater than 90% of Leydig cells). Second, FSH stimulates the activity of
Leydig cells cocultured with Sertoli cells, whereas it remains without
effect on purified Leydig cells cultured alone. This stimulating effect of
FSH on Leydig cell activity is dependent on the Sertoli cell number in the
coculture. These data 1) show that the stimulating effect of FSH on Leydig
cell function is mediated by Sertoli cells and 2) support the concept of
local control of Leydig cell function originating from Sertoli cells.
