Endocrinology, Vol 135, 759-767, Copyright © 1994 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Peritubular myoid cells from immature rat testes secrete activin-A and express activin receptor type II in vitro

JP de Winter, HM Vanderstichele, G Verhoeven, MA Timmerman, JG Wesseling and FH de Jong
Department of Endocrinology and Reproduction, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The expression of activin type II and IIB receptors and inhibin alpha-, beta A-, and beta B-subunit messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and the secretion of immunoreactive and bioactive activin during culture of testicular peritubular myoid cells and peritubular myoid cell lines were studied. Cultured peritubular myoid cells and cell lines expressed high levels of inhibin beta A-subunit mRNA and some inhibin alpha- and beta B- subunit mRNA. Activin receptor type II mRNA was also detected, whereas activin receptor type IIB mRNA expression was not found. Expression of the beta A-subunit mRNA was present immediately after isolation of the cells and increased during culture in Eagle's Minimum Essential Medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. beta A-Subunit mRNA expression was not regulated by the synthetic androgen R1881. Western blotting of peritubular myoid cell- and peritubular cell line-conditioned media with a polyclonal antiserum against recombinant activin-A revealed the presence of 25-kilodalton activin-A, whereas activin bioactivity was detected using the animal cap assay. Because of the secretion of activin-A by peritubular myoid cells, the effects of recombinant activin-A on Sertoli cell inhibin and transferrin secretion were examined. Activin-A stimulated both basal and FSH-stimulated inhibin and transferrin production by Sertoli cells after 72 h of culture. These effects resemble the effects of the testicular paracrine factor PmodS on Sertoli cell function. It is concluded that activin-A is secreted by peritubular cells in vitro and that activin-A shares a number of effects on Sertoli cell function with PmodS.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Barakat, A. E O'Connor, E. Gold, D. M de Kretser, and K. L Loveland Inhibin, activin, follistatin and FSH serum levels and testicular production are highly modulated during the first spermatogenic wave in mice Reproduction, September 1, 2008; 136(3): 345 - 359. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y Okuma, A E O'Connor, T Hayashi, K L Loveland, D M de Kretser, and M P Hedger Regulated production of activin A and inhibin B throughout the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 190(2): 331 - 340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. O'Bryan, O. Gerdprasert, D. J. Nikolic-Paterson, A. Meinhardt, J. A. Muir, L. M. Foulds, D. J. Phillips, D. M. de Kretser, and M. P. Hedger Cytokine profiles in the testes of rats treated with lipopolysaccharide reveal localized suppression of inflammatory responses Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2005; 288(6): R1744 - R1755. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y Okuma, K Saito, A E O'Connor, D J Phillips, D M de Kretser, and M P Hedger Reciprocal regulation of activin A and inhibin B by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in rat Sertoli cells in vitro J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2005; 185(1): 99 - 110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Buzzard, K. L. Loveland, M. K. O'Bryan, A. E. O'Connor, M. Bakker, T. Hayashi, N. G. Wreford, J. R. Morrison, and D. M. de Kretser Changes in Circulating and Testicular Levels of Inhibin A and B and Activin A During Postnatal Development in the Rat Endocrinology, July 1, 2004; 145(7): 3532 - 3541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Koga, Y. Osuga, T. Yano, Y. Ikezuki, O. Yoshino, Y. Hirota, T. Hirata, S. Horie, T. Ayabe, O. Tsutsumi, et al. Evidence for the Presence of Angiogenin in Human Testis J Androl, May 1, 2004; 25(3): 369 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Buzzard, P. G. Farnworth, D. M. de Kretser, A. E. O'Connor, N. G. Wreford, and J. R. Morrison Proliferative Phase Sertoli Cells Display a Developmentally Regulated Response to Activin in Vitro Endocrinology, February 1, 2003; 144(2): 474 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.H. Bame, J.C. Dalton, S.D. Degelos, T.E.M. Good, J.L.H. Ireland, F. Jimenez-Krassel, T. Sweeney, R.G. Saacke, and J.J. Ireland Effect of Long-Term Immunization against Inhibin on Sperm Output in Bulls Biol Reprod, June 1, 1999; 60(6): 1360 - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. Gnessi, A. Fabbri, and G. Spera Gonadal Peptides as Mediators of Development and Functional Control of the Testis: An Integrated System with Hormones and Local Environment Endocr. Rev., August 1, 1997; 18(4): 541 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]