Endocrinology, Vol 122, 1541-1550, Copyright © 1988 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Follicle-stimulating hormone and androgens increase the concentration of the androgen receptor in Sertoli cells

G Verhoeven and J Cailleau
Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Onderwijs en Navorsing, Campus Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.

The influence of FSH and androgens on androgen receptor levels in primary Sertoli cell cultures from immature rats is studied in a monolayer binding assay and by sucrose density gradient centrifugation using the synthetic radiolabeled androgen mibolerone (7 alpha, 17 alpha- dimethyl-19-nortestosterone) as a ligand. Preincubation of Sertoli cells for 4 days with FSH, testosterone, or 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone results into a 2- to 3-fold increase in mibolerone binding, as measured 18 h after removal of the agonists. The combination of androgens and FSH has additive effects. The action of FSH can be mimicked by (Bu)2cAMP, and the activity of the androgens can be blocked by the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate. The mibolerone-binding protein has the ligand specificity, affinity, and sedimentation behavior characteristic for an androgen receptor. Using a DEAE-cellulose filter disc assay and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone as a ligand, androgen- binding protein (ABP) was measured in the media of the studied Sertoli cell cultures. Despite some similarity in the hormonal control of ABP and the androgen receptor, there are distinct differences in the ligand specificity of the two androgen binding proteins, which exclude that ABP might interfere with the receptor measurements. The effects of androgens and FSH on the androgen receptor are evident at concentrations equal to or lower than those required to provoke a measurable increase in ABP secretion. It is concluded that FSH and androgens control androgen receptor levels in Sertoli cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. H Walker and J. Cheng FSH and testosterone signaling in Sertoli cells Reproduction, July 1, 2005; 130(1): 15 - 28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Hill, M. D. Anway, B. R. Zirkin, and T. R. Brown Intratesticular Androgen Levels, Androgen Receptor Localization, and Androgen Receptor Expression in Adult Rat Sertoli Cells Biol Reprod, October 1, 2004; 71(4): 1348 - 1358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Fix, C. Jordan, P. Cano, and W. H. Walker Testosterone activates mitogen-activated protein kinase and the cAMP response element binding protein transcription factor in Sertoli cells PNAS, July 27, 2004; 101(30): 10919 - 10924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Scobey, S. Bertera, J. P. Somers, S. C. Watkins, A. J. Zeleznik, and W. H. Walker Delivery of a Cyclic Adenosine 3',5'-Monophosphate Response Element-Binding Protein (CREB) Mutant to Seminiferous Tubules Results in Impaired Spermatogenesis Endocrinology, February 1, 2001; 142(2): 948 - 954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Regadera, F. MartÍnez-GarcÍa, P. González-Peramato, A. Serrano, M. Nistal, and C. Suárez-Quian Androgen Receptor Expression in Sertoli Cells as a Function of Seminiferous Tubule Maturation in the Human Cryptorchid Testis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2001; 86(1): 413 - 421. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. Hoeben, J. V. Swinnen, W. Heyns, and G. Verhoeven Heregulins or Neu Differentiation Factors and the Interactions between Peritubular Myoid Cells and Sertoli Cells Endocrinology, May 1, 1999; 140(5): 2216 - 2223. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. F. S. Huang, M.-T. Li, W. Giglio, R. Anesetti, J. E. Ottenweller, and L. M. Pogach The Detrimental Effects of Spinal Cord Injury on Spermatogenesis in the Rat Is Partially Reversed by Testosterone, but Enhanced by Follicle- Stimulating Hormone Endocrinology, March 1, 1999; 140(3): 1349 - 1355. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. Yan, J. Linderborg, J. Suominen, and J. Toppari Stage-Specific Regulation of Stem Cell Factor Gene Expression in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium Endocrinology, March 1, 1999; 140(3): 1499 - 1504. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. F.S. Huang, M.-t. Li, R. Anesetti, W. Giglio, J. E. Ottenweller, and L. M. Pogach Effects of Spinal Cord Injury on Spermatogenesis and the Expression of Messenger Ribonucleic Acid for Sertoli Cell Proteins in Rat Sertoli Cell-Enriched Testes Biol Reprod, March 1, 1999; 60(3): 635 - 641. [Abstract] [Full Text]