Regulation of expression of Sertoli cell glucose transporters 1 and 3 by FSH, IL1beta, and bFGF at two different time-points in pubertal development.

GALARDO MARÍA NOEL; RIERA MARÍA FERNANDA; PELLIZZARI ELIANA HERMINIA; CHEMES HECTOR; VENARA MARCELA; CIGORRAGA SELVA BEATRIZ; MERONI SILVINA BEATRIZ

CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH

Springer-Verlag

Lugar: Berlín; Año: 2008 vol. 334 p. 295 - 304

0302-766X

Sertoli cells are necessary to provide adequate levels of lactate for germ cell development. Lactate production is hormonally regulated by FSH and by a large set of intratesticular regulators such as IL1b and bFGF. Little is known about the critical step for the production of this metabolite -entrance of glucose into the cell mediated by GLUTs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of the glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3 and its possible regulation by FSH, IL1b and bFGF in Sertoli cells at two different moments of sexual development. For this purpose, Sertoli cells retaining the ability to suffer mitosis (obtained from 8-day-old rats) and in the process of terminal differentiation (obtained from 20-day-old rats) were used. Testicular tissue sections and Sertoli cell monolayers obtained from 8- and 20-day-old rats processed for immunostaining showed the presence of GLUT1 and GLUT3 proteins. Furthermore, GLUT1 and GLUT3 mRNA levels were detected at the two ages analyzed. Treatment of Sertoli cells obtained from 8- and 20-day-old rats with FSH, IL1b and bFGF for variable periods of time (12, 24 and 48 hours) increased GLUT1 without changing GLUT3 mRNA levels. In summary, the results obtained herein show that Sertoli cells express GLUT1 and GLUT3 throughout pubertal development. They also show that in Sertoli cells only GLUT1 is regulated by hormones, at least during the life span analyzed so far. Hormonal regulation of GLUT1 expression and consequently glucose uptake and lactate production, necessary for germ cell development, may be a substantial part of the so-called hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis.