Insulin and IGF-I actions on IGF-I receptor in seminiferous tubules from immature rats

Insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) are capable of activating similar intracellular pathways. Insulin acts mainly through its own receptor, but can also activate the IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR). The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of the IGF-IR in the effects of insulin and IGF-I on the membrane potential of immature Sertoli cells in whole seminiferous tubules, as well as on calcium, amino acid, and glucose uptake in testicular tissue of immature rats. The membrane potential of the Sertoli cells was recorded using a standard single microelectrode technique. In calcium uptake experiments, the testes were pre-incubated with (45)Ca(2+), with or without JB1 (1 μg/mL), and then incubated with insulin (100 nM) or IGF-I (15 nM). In amino acid and glucose uptake experiments, the gonads were pre-incubated with or without JB1 (1 μg/mL) and then incubated with radiolabeled amino acid or glucose analogues in the presence of insulin (100 nM) or IGF-I (15 nM). The blockade of IGF-IR with JB1 prevented the depolarising effects of both insulin and IGF-I on membrane potential, as well as the effect of insulin on calcium uptake. JB1 also inhibited the effects of insulin and IGF-I on glucose uptake. The effect of IGF-I on amino acid transport was inhibited in the presence of JB1, whereas the effect of insulin was not. We concluded that while IGF-I seems to act mainly through its cognate receptor to induce membrane depolarisation and calcium, amino acid and glucose uptake, insulin appears to be able to elicit its effects through IGF-IR, in seminiferous tubules from immature rats.

Epitestosterone and testosterone have similar nonclassical actions on membrane of Sertoli cells in whole seminiferous tubules

Epitestosterone is the 17α-epimer of testosterone. This steroid possesses antiandrogenic activities. The mechanism of action of epitestosterone has not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the nonclassical effect of epitestosterone on the membrane of Sertoli cells in proliferative phase (rats aged 15 days) and in nonproliferative phase (rats aged 21 and 35 days). The membrane potential of Sertoli cells was recorded using a standard single microelectrode technique. Epitestosterone (0.5, 1, and 2 μM) or testosterone (1 μM) was administered alone and after infusion with flutamide (1 μM), verapamil (100 μM), or U-73122 (2 μM). The testes of rats aged 12-15 days were preincubated with 45Ca2+ with or without flutamide (1 μM) and incubated with epitestosterone (1 μM) or testosterone (1 μM). Epitestosterone and testosterone produced a depolarization in the membrane potential and increased the membrane input resistance on Sertoli cells from rats of all 3 ages. The effect of epitestosterone did not change after perfusion with flutamide. Epitestosterone increased 45Ca2+ uptake within 5 min and this effect was not inhibited by flutamide. The absence of an effect by flutamide suggests that epitestosterone acts independently of the intracellular androgen receptor. The depolarizing effect was inhibited by verapamil, a voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker, and by U-73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor. These results indicate that epitestosterone acts on the membrane via a nonclassical signaling pathway; the effect was similar to the testosterone action on membrane of Sertoli cells in whole seminiferous tubules from rat testes.

Diverse FSH and testosterone signaling pathways in the Sertoli cell

FSH and testosterone exert different regulatory effects on the seminiferous epithelium; they act through multiple and complex signaling routes to direct the development of the germ cells into mature spermatozoa. In addition to their well-known pathways of action, both hormones have recently been recognized to have new signaling routes that are linked to the Ca(2+) ion, including, among others, the regulation of cell proliferation by FSH and the regulation of cell migration by testosterone.

Testosterone rapidly stimulates insulin release from isolated pancreatic islets through a non-genomic dependent mechanism

The action of testosterone on the 45Ca2+ uptake and insulin secretion was studied in short-term experiments using isolated pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Testosterone (1 microM) stimulated 45Ca2+ uptake within 60 seconds of incubation on similar proportion than tolbutamide. Also, the hormone rapidly increased insulin release (34%; 180 seconds) on the presence of non-stimulatory concentrations of glucose (3 mM). Impermeant testosterone-BSA significantly stimulated the secretion of insulin to a lower percentage (10%). The action of the hormone is specific--neither 17beta-E2 nor progesterone stimulated insulin secretion in the presence of 3 mM glucose. The action of testosterone on insulin secretion was dose-dependent, and at rat plasma physiological concentrations (25 nM), stimulus was 17% (p < 0.05). In conclusion, in isolated pancreatic islets experiments, physiological concentration of testosterone rapidly stimulate insulin secretion and 45Ca2+ uptake through a membrane bound mechanism.

Isoproterenol opens K+(ATP) channels via a beta2-adrenoceptor-linked mechanism in Sertoli cells from immature rats

In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which isoproterenol hyperpolarises membrane potential (MP) in Sertoli cells from seminiferous tubules of 15-day-old rat testes. Modification of MP and resistance (R0) was analysed using conventional intracellular glass microelectrodes. Isoproterenol (2 x 10(-6) M) induced an immediate and significant hyperpolarisation in the Sertoli-cell membrane. The beta2-AR antagonist, butoxamine (1 x 10(-6) M), nullified isoproterenol action. The effect of the beta1 antagonist, metoprolol (1 x 10(-6) M), was light and non-significant. Sulphonylurea glibenclamide inhibition of the K+(ATP) channels suppressed isoproterenol action, and testosterone, while depolarising Sertoli-cell MP closing the K+(ATP) channels through the PLC/PIP2 pathway, reduced beta-AR agonist-induced hyperpolarisation. Also, polycations LaCl3 and spermine reversed isoproterenol's hyperpolarisation effect, probably depolarising the membrane potential through ionic interaction neutralising the action of isoproterenol on K+(ATP) channels. Adenylate cyclase agonist forskolin (0.1 microM) rapidly hyperpolarised Sertoli-cell MP, mimicking the isoproterenol effect. These effects indicate that isoproterenol's action on K+(ATP) channel probably involves the known signalling cascade beta-AR/Gs/AC/cAMP/PKA. These results suggest that the isoproterenol-induced hyperpolarisation is mediated by the opening of K+(ATP) channels in Sertoli cells. This beta-adrenergic hyperpolarisation might play a physiological role in the modulation of MP.

Testosterone Action on the Sertoli Cell Membrane: A KIR6.x Channel Related Effect

This review focuses on the fast testosterone actions on the cell membrane principally on the Sertoli cells, its predominant effect, i.e. an increase in [Ca+]i and the possibility of its actions being mediated by KIR (ATP) channels. The regulation of the K+ATP channels by phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate depletion on the cell membrane as a result of the action of testosterone, its putative receptors, and the phospholipase C--phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate pathway are discussed. The electrostatic interaction between anionic and cationic charges on the K+ATP modulation is also considered, in the light of testosterone's effect on phospholipase C--phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis. Thus, the interaction of testosterone with its putative receptors, phospholipase C, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate, and K+ATP channels (or other KIR channels) in the membrane may be one of the mechanism of rapid testosterone's physiological action on some classes of cells.

Testosterone modulates K(+)ATP channels in Sertoli cell membrane via the PLC-PIP2 pathway

Testosterone at physiological intratesticular concentrations induces a dose-dependent depolarisation and an increase in input resistance together with an increment of 45Ca2+ uptake in the Sertoli cells from seminiferous tubules of immature rat. Previous studies have implicated K(+)ATP channels in these testosterone actions. This study demonstrates that testosterone and sulphonylureas (glibenclamide and tolbutamide) depolarise the membrane potential, augment resistance and 45Ca2+ uptake in the Sertoli cells of seminiferous tubules from 10-15 day-old rats. These actions were nullified by the presence of the K(+)ATP channel opener diazoxide. The depolarisation was also observed with the impermeant bovine serum albumin-bound testosterone. Testosterone actions were blocked by both pertussis toxin and the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122 implying the involvement of PLC - phosphatidylinositol 4-5 bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis via G protein in testosterone actions. Polycations, including spermine and LaCl3, depolarised the membrane potential and increased the resistance. Hyperpolarisation caused by EGTA was reversed by LaCl3 and by the presence of testosterone. This last effect was nullified by the presence of U73122. All of the above results indicate that the action of testosterone on the Sertoli cell membrane is exercised on the K(+)ATP channels through PLC-PIP2 hydrolysis that closes the channel, depolarises the membrane, and stimulates 45Ca2+ uptake.

Rapid effect of testosterone on rat Sertoli cell membrane potential. Relationship with K+ATP channels

For this study, we investigated the changes in the electrophysiological parameters of Sertoli cells in seminiferous tubules from 17 - 19 day-old rats induced by testosterone. Using conventional intracellular microelectrode techniques, we analysed the membrane potential and its input resistance. The entire tubules were fixed in a superfusion chamber continuously perfused with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4, 32 degrees C). Visual control of cell impalement was achieved using an inverted microscope. The parameters analysed were passed through an amplifier and recorded using a proprietary software system. The topical application of testosterone (0.1 to 10 microM) led to an immediate (within 30 seconds) and significant dose-dependent depolarization of the membrane potential of the cell at all concentrations used. Concomitantly, the input resistance of the cell membrane underwent a significant increment at 30 seconds. These changes returned to resting values after washout. Topical administration of 17beta-estradiol or progesterone (10 microM) did not change the membrane potential. The addition of the K +ATP channel agonist diazoxide to the perfusion buffer nullified the depolarization effect of testosterone at 30 seconds. This result suggests that the immediate action of testosterone is associated with the closing of K +ATP channels, thereby depolarizing the membrane.

Electrophysiological changes of Sertoli cells produced by the acute administration of amino acid and FSH

Electrophysiological studies were carried out using seminiferous tubules of "Sertoli cell enriched testes" of rats irradiated in utero. Sertoli cells were inserted with glass microelectrodes in a superfusion chamber continuously perfused with KRb buffer. The topical application of FSH (4.0 mU/ml) produced a biphasic effect characterized by a rapid hyperpolarization (less than 3 s) followed by depolarization. The depolarizing effect of FSH was prolonged and potentiated in the presence of 5 mmol/l alpha-methylamino-isobutyric acid in the bath medium of the superfusion chamber. Verapamil, at a dose (250 mumol/l) that nullified the stimulatory action of FSH in the amino acid transport, suppressed the depolarizing effect of FSH. It was concluded that in immature rat testes FSH produces electrophysiological changes that mediate the stimulatory action of the amino acid transport.

Biochemical factors involved in the FSH action on amino acid transport in immature rat testes

Testes of 15-day-old rats preincubated and incubated during different times with various doses of FSH (0.2; 2.0 and 20.0 mU/ml) in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate (KRb) buffer increase the uptake of [14C] methylaminoisobutyric acid and [14C] aminoisobutyric acid. The basal and FSH stimulated amino acid transport occurs at absolute lower levels when the protein or glycoprotein synthesis is inhibited by cycloheximide (350 mumol/l) or tunicamycin (12 mumol/l) or when the microtubules are depolymerized with colchicine (1.2 mumol/l). However, the proportional increase of amino acid transport produced by FSH was maintained. The blockage of the voltage-dependent Ca++ channels with verapamil or the competitive inhibition of the bivalent ion channels by Co++ or Ni++ nullified the stimulatory action of FSH on the amino acid transport. Also quinine, that blocks the ATP dependent K+ channels, abolished the FSH action. It was concluded that in immature rat testes FSH stimulates amino acid transport through a mechanism involving voltage-dependent Ca++ channels and ATP-sensitive K+ channel.