Monoclonal antibodies against rat Leydig cell surface antigens

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the Leydig cell surface may be used to identify this cell in testicular preparations. Collagenase-dispersed adult rat interstitial cells were fractionated on Percoll density gradients, and Leydig cell-enriched fractions were used to prepare MAbs. Hybridomas were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) on isolated testicular cells and immunocytochemical localization on paraffin sections of adult testes. In density gradient fractions, immunoglobulin (Ig) M MAbs (LC-1C6 and LC-6H6) labeled the surface of cells possessing the morphological characteristics of Leydig cells. The density gradient profiles of MAb-binding activity observed by IIF and ELISA were parallel with the Leydig cell distribution as determined by [125I]-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) binding, testosterone response to hCG in vitro, 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase histochemistry and electron microscopy. The MAbs prominently labeled most interstitial cells in sections, but there was little or no labeling of connective tissue, endothelial or seminiferous tubule cells. Both MAbs recognized components of Mr 58,000 in Western blots of Leydig cell-enriched extracts. The results indicate that LC-1C6 and LC-6H6 recognize antigens on the Leydig cell surface that are not present on other isolated testicular cells from the adult rat. These MAbs are specific markers of the Leydig cell in situ and in vitro.

Degradation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and an LHRH agonist by the rat testis

Degradation of LHRH and [D-Ser(tBu)6,des-Gly-NH10(2)]LHRH ethylamide (LHRH-A), during incubation with high-speed supernatants of rat testes, as assessed by reversed-phase (RP)-HPLC fractionation of the iodinated peptides and by radioimmunoassays for LHRH or LHRH-A, was principally due to a neutral 43 000 Da peptidase with apparent Km values at 25 degrees C of 0.15 microM for LHRH and 1.19 microM for LHRH-A. The peptidase was inhibited by sulphydryl reagents, TLCK, 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA, bacitracin, other LHRH analogues, oxytocin, [Lys8]vasopressin and somatostatin. It was predomantly located in seminiferous tubule supernatants (98% of recovered activity), with much lower levels in interstitial fluid (2%), interstitial tissue or testicular particulate fractions (less than 0.8%). Extracts of cultured immature Sertoli cells produced LHRH- and LHRH-A-degradation profiles, as assessed by RP-HPLC, that were identical to those produced by testicular supernatants. Similar levels of peptidase activity/mg protein were observed in immature and adult rat testes. These studies indicate that the principal LHRH-peptidase in the rat testis is produced by cells of the seminiferous epithelium, chiefly the Sertoli cell, and may play an important role in regulating the activity of LHRH and other peptide hormones in the testis.

The isolation and measurement of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) from the rat testis

Although LHRH has been implicated in the direct control of rat Leydig cell function, LHRH has not been previously detected in the rat testis. An optimized fractionation procedure, which involved acid extraction, bulk fractionation on ODS-silica, extraction in chloroform/ethanol, ether extraction, gel filtration on Sephadex G-15 and RP-HPLC, was employed to isolate LHRH from lyophilized adult rat testes. LHRH activity was assessed by an in vitro LHRH bioassay system employing rat anterior pituitary cells in monolayer culture and several radioimmunoassays for LHRH. LHRH recoveries were monitored by the addition of exogenous LHRH to some samples of lyophilized testes prior to extraction. LHRH bioactivity was non-detectable in the LHRH region of the gel filtration profile of testis extracts in the absence of exogenous LHRH; however, using the most specific LHRH RIA procedure, LHRH immunoactivity which co-chromatographed with LHRH following RP-HPLC was found in all extracts. Based on an average LHRH recovery of 31.0%, as determined from the extracts containing exogenous LHRH, the level of endogenous LHRH immunoactivity in the extracts was determined to be equivalent to 5.6 pg LHRH/g dry weight or 1.0 pg LHRH/testis. These results indicate that the levels of LHRH in the adult rat testis are considerably less than those of the hypothalamus. Based on these findings a simplified fractionation/assay procedure with sufficient sensitivity can be devised for the quantitation of testicular LHRH as a means of clarifying its physiological role in gonadal function.

Autoradiographical localization of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) receptors on rat testicular intertubular cells fractionated on Percoll density gradients

The specific binding of 125I-labelled [D-Ser(tBu)6,des-GlyNH2(10)] LHRH ethylamide (LHRH-A) to testicular intertubular cells fractionated on Percoll density gradients was investigated. The greatest binding per cell occurred in the density region which contained the largest proportion of Leydig cells (sp. gr. 1.0820-1.0585). Autoradiographs of the cells from this region confirmed that silver stains were predominantly located over the Leydig cell, significantly (P less than 0.01) more grains were observed over this cell type in the total binding fractions than in the non-specific binding fractions. However, 5.9% of cells other than Leydig cells (testicular macrophages and indeterminate connective tissue cells) from this region also displayed significant displaceable binding (P less than 0.01). The location of [125I]LHRH-A binding to cells in other density regions, which did not contain identifiable Leydig cells, could not be established by autoradiography. These results confirm that the Leydig cell possesses LHRH receptors, but also indicate that other testicular cells have specific, high-affinity binding sites for LHRH-A, and may either be responsive to direct stimulation by LHRH, or may partially mediate the effects of LHRH and its agonists on Leydig cell function.

Spontaneous Spermatogenic Failure in the Marsupial Mouse Antechinus stuartii Macleay (Dasyuridae: Marsupialia)

Male Antechinus stuartii were collected from sclerophyll forests in Victoria at regular intervals from February to August. Spermatogenic function was assessed by means of light microscopy of testicular tissues fixed and embedded in epoxy plastic, from which a quantitative analysis of spermatogenesis was determined. Testis cytosols were prepared for assay of androgen-binding protein (ABP) and plasma was collected for androgen assay. Germ cell maturation proceeded normally until May, when failure of spermatogenesis was reflected by depletion of spermatogonia and early primary spermatocytes. However, germ cells of more advanced maturational stages were able to complete the spermatogenic process, yielding mature sperm first observed in the testis late in June. Failure of the seminiferous epithelium to replenish the numbers of early germ cells resulted in progressive depletion of germ cells in later months, leading in August to collapse of the seminiferous tubules which then contained only Sertoli cells and spermatogonia. Plasma androgens exhibited progressive elevation, reaching a peak in July and August, but testicular ABP was always undetectable. The findings suggest that the inability of the testis to maintain spermatogenesis results from intrinsic changes to testicular function exerted at the level of the spermatogonial population.