Effects of follicle-stimulating hormone on cultures of Sertoli cell preparations.

Sertoli cell-enriched preparations were obtained by sequential enzyme treatment of testes of 18-20 day old rats, and were maintained in culture in a chemically defined medium. The addition of highly purified follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to cells immediately after preparation, or after 48 h in culture, elicited an increase in the level of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) when incubated in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (MIX). Luteinizing hormone (LH) had no effect on the cAMP levels. The cells cultured in the presence of FSH or dibutyryl cAMP for 48 h incorporated more [3H]leucine into trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-insoluble material than did cells cultured in the basal medium. Cycloheximide abolished the amino acid incorporation into protein precipitated by TCA. The data demonstrate that the Sertoli cell is a target cell for FSH action, and indicate that added dibutyryl cAMP can duplicate the enhancement of amino acid incorporation into protein elicited by FSH.