This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by VIHKO, K. K. Articles by HSUEH, A. J. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by VIHKO, K. K. Articles by HSUEH, A. J. W.

Stimulatory Effects of Recombinant Follicle-Stimulating Hormone on Leydig Cell Function and Spermatogenesis in Immature Hypophysectomized Rats^*

KIMMO K. VIHKO, PHILIP S. LAPOLT, K. NISHIMORI and AARON J. W. HSUEH

Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University Medical Center Stanford, California 94305

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Aaron J.-W. Hsueh, Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, California 94305-5317.

Abstract

Although earlier reports suggest a stimulatory effect of FSH on Leydig cell function, controversy exists due to unavailability of FSH preparations free of contaminating LH. Recent availability of recombinant human FSH preparations made it possible to reinvestigate this question. Immature male rats were hypophysectomized (21–22 days old at surgery) and implanted with osmotic minipumps releasing 8 IU recombinant FSH or 18 IU purified human pituitary FSH (hpFSH)/day, whereas control animals received vehicle alone. After 7 days of treatment, testicular weight increased in the recombinant FSH and hpFSH-treated animals to values 2.3-and 2.5-fold those of controls, respectively. Analyses of the steroidogenic capacity of Leydig cells in testes of rats treated with recombinant FSH or hpFSH also revealed 2.9-and 3.8-fold androgen production in ultra compared to controls. In these rats recombinant FSH and hpFSH increased the LH receptor number in testicular homogenate by 50% and 70%, respectively. The increase in LH receptor number was associated with increases in the LH receptor mRNA levels. In hypophysectomized control rats, small seminiferous tubules contained spermatogonia and zygotene/early pachytene spermatocytes. In contrast, treatment with either FSH preparation enhanced the progression of meiosis, as evidenced by large number of pachytene spermatocytes and appearance of round spermatids. The present results show that LH-free recombinant FSH, like purified pituitary FSH, is capable of increasing the LH receptor content and steroidogenic responsiveness of Leydig cells through paracrine mechanisms together with a stimulatory effect on spermatogenesis. These observations suggest that prepubertal elevation of FSH secretion may be important for increasing Leydig cell steroidogenic capacity and spermatogenic progression

Footnotes

^* This work was supported by NICHHD Contract HD-9-2922.

NIH Fogarty International Research Fellowship Award 1-F05-TWO-4355-01. Supported also by a grant from the Academy of Finland. On leave from Department of Physiology, University of Turku, SF-20520 Turku, Finland.

National Research Service Award HD-07252.

Received May 24, 1991.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. L. Borg, K. M. Wolski, G. M. Gibbs, and M. K. O'Bryan Phenotyping male infertility in the mouse: how to get the most out of a 'non-performer' Hum. Reprod. Update, September 15, 2009; (2009) dmp032v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.R. Simorangkir, S. Ramaswamy, G.R. Marshall, C.R. Pohl, and T.M. Plant A selective monotropic elevation of FSH, but not that of LH, amplifies the proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia in the adult rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2009; 24(7): 1584 - 1595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M H Abel, D Baban, S Lee, H M Charlton, and P J O'Shaughnessy Effects of FSH on testicular mRNA transcript levels in the hypogonadal mouse J. Mol. Endocrinol., April 1, 2009; 42(4): 291 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Abel, P. J. Baker, H. M. Charlton, A. Monteiro, G. Verhoeven, K. De Gendt, F. Guillou, and P. J. O'Shaughnessy Spermatogenesis and Sertoli Cell Activity in Mice Lacking Sertoli Cell Receptors for Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Androgen Endocrinology, July 1, 2008; 149(7): 3279 - 3285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Raivio, A. M Wikstrom, and L. Dunkel Treatment of gonadotropin-deficient boys with recombinant human FSH: long-term observation and outcome Eur. J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2007; 156(1): 105 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Allan, A. Garcia, J. Spaliviero, F.-P. Zhang, M. Jimenez, I. Huhtaniemi, and D. J. Handelsman Complete Sertoli Cell Proliferation Induced by Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Independently of Luteinizing Hormone Activity: Evidence from Genetic Models of Isolated FSH Action Endocrinology, April 1, 2004; 145(4): 1587 - 1593. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Baker, P. Pakarinen, I. T. Huhtaniemi, M. H. Abel, H. M. Charlton, T. R. Kumar, and P. J. O'Shaughnessy Failure of Normal Leydig Cell Development in Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Receptor-Deficient Mice, But Not FSH{beta}-Deficient Mice: Role for Constitutive FSH Receptor Activity Endocrinology, January 1, 2003; 144(1): 138 - 145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Stoker, S. C. Laws, D. L. Guidici, and R. L. Cooper The Effect of Atrazine on Puberty in Male Wistar Rats: An Evaluation in the Protocol for the Assessment of Pubertal Development and Thyroid Function Toxicol. Sci., November 1, 2000; 58(1): 50 - 59. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Ramaswamy, G. R. Marshall, A. S. McNeilly, and T. M. Plant Dynamics of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)-Inhibin B Feedback Loop and Its Role in Regulating Spermatogenesis in the Adult Male Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) as Revealed by Unilateral Orchidectomy Endocrinology, January 1, 2000; 141(1): 18 - 27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Levalle, C. Zylbersztein, S. Aszpis, D. Aquilano, C. Terradas, M. Colombani, C. Aranda, and H. Scaglia Recombinant Human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Administration Increases Testosterone Production in Men, Possibly by a Sertoli Cell-Secreted Nonsteroid Factor J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 1998; 83(11): 3973 - 3976. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. Hakola, D. D. Pierroz, A. Aebi, B. A.M. Vuagnat, M. L. Aubert, and I. Huhtaniemi Dose and Time Relationships of Intravenously Injected Rat Recombinant Luteinizing Hormone and Testicular Testosterone Secretion in the Male Rat Biol Reprod, August 1, 1998; 59(2): 338 - 343. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. S. Majumdar, S. J. Winters, and T. M. Plant A Study of the Relative Roles of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone in the Regulation of Testicular Inhibin Secretion in the Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Endocrinology, April 1, 1997; 138(4): 1363 - 1373. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]