Influences of follicle-stimulating hormone, proteases, and antiproteases on permeability of the barrier generated by Sertoli cells in a two-chambered assembly

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Endocrinology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-124-3-1399· OSTI ID:6174351

Ailenberg, M; Fritz, I B

Factors have been identified that influence the integrity of the barrier generated by Sertoli cells (SC) in culture in a two-chambered assembly. The permeability of the barrier was assessed by determining rates of equilibration of (3H)methoxyinulin or (86Rb)Cl across the Sertoli cell monolayer. The complete system consisted of a confluent monolayer of SC maintained on an extracellular matrix (Matrigel)-coated filter together with peritubular cells on the opposite side of the filter. In confirmation of previous results, levels of plasminogen activator (PA) activity secreted were increased by treatment of SC with FSH or with cAMP derivatives ((Bu)2cAMP (dbcAMP)). PA levels in the culture medium were inversely related to times required for 50% equilibration of (3H)methoxyinulin across the SC monolayer. Thus, elevated PA levels, elicited by stimulation with FSH or dbcAMP, were associated with a decreased integrity of the barrier generated by SC preparations maintained in serum-free medium in the complete system. The increase in permeability of the barrier in SC elicited by FSH dbcAMP could be prevented, however, by the addition of various antiproteases. FSH actions on barrier function were complex. Effects of FSH that favored barrier integrity were most readily detected when proteolytic activity was inhibited. The addition of intact serum increased the integrity of the barrier, but acid-treated serum depleted of antiproteases had no such effect. We advance the hypothesis that proteases are implicated in modulation of the formation and maintenance of the seminiferous tubule barrier by SC.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
• OSTI ID: 6174351
• Journal Information: Endocrinology; (United States), Journal Name: Endocrinology; (United States) Vol. 124:3; ISSN ENDOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DRUGS
ENZYME INHIBITORS
ENZYMES
FIBRINOLYTIC AGENTS
FSH
FUNCTIONS
GONADOTROPINS
GONADS
HEMATOLOGIC AGENTS
HORMONES
HYDROLASES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INULIN
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MEMBRANES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
PERMEABILITY
PITUITARY HORMONES
PLASMINOGEN
POLYSACCHARIDES
RADIOISOTOPES
RATS
RODENTS
RUBIDIUM 86
RUBIDIUM ISOTOPES
SACCHARIDES
TESTES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES