Regulation of lipid storage by leptin in Sertoli cells

CENTOLA, CECILIA LUCIA; DASSO, MARINA E.; MERONI, SILVINA BEATRIZ; RINDONE, GUSTAVO MARCELO; PELLIZZARI, ELIANA HERMINIA; GALARDO, MARÍA NOEL; GORGA, AGOSTINA; CAMBEROS, MARÍA DEL CARMEN; RIERA, MARÍA FERNANDA

Modalidad virtual

Congreso; LXV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica. Biociencias 2020; 2020

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Clínica

The process of spermatogenesis and consequently male fertility are dependent upon the somatic cells that are present in the testis. Sertoli cells (SCs) are necessary in order to provide the structural and nutritional support for germ cell development. SCs convert glucose to lactate, the main energy substrate for spermatogenic cells. Consequently, SCs cannot rely on glucose for their own energy requirements and it has been postulated that they utilize fatty acids (FA) as energy source. In addition, FA are stored as triglycerides (TAG) in lipid droplets (LD), being the latter essential to keep ATP levels in SCs. On the other hand, according to the World Health Organization, obesity prevalence has risen dramatically and has been shown to negatively affect male reproductive function through multiple mechanisms. Adipocytes, the main cell type within adipose tissue, secrete Leptin (Lep) and its secretion is increased in obesity. Therefore, the analysis of Lep effects on SC function might explain some mechanisms related to subfertility associated with obesity. Considering that the regulation of FA storage may be relevant to seminiferous tubule physiology, the aim of this work was to study the effect of Lep on TAG storage in SCs. Cultures of SCs from 20-day old rats were maintained under basal conditions (B) or stimulated with concentrations of Lep observed in non-obese (10ng/ml) and obese (100 ng/ml) patients for 48 h. It was observed that both conditions augment the LD number (B: 0.67±0.17; Lep 10: 1.67 ± 0.41*; Lep 100: 2.9±1.0*. X±SD, LD/cell in one representative experiment out of three. *P < 0.05 vs B). This change was accompanied by an increase in TAG content and in mRNA levels of PLIN1, protein that coats LD. The results presented herein suggest that Lep regulates lipid storage in SCs. Considering that the FA are the main energy source of SCs, Lep would play an important role in the lipid homeostasis of this cell type (PICT2015-228;PICT2018-1291;PIP2015-0127).