Endocrinology, Vol 130, 871-881, Copyright © 1992 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Stage-specific binding of inhibin and activin to subpopulations of rat germ cells

TK Woodruff, J Borree, KM Attie, ET Cox, GC Rice and JP Mather
Department of Cell Culture Research, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080.

Flow cytometry was used to separate and identify Sertoli and germ cell populations in primary rat testicular cultures derived from animals of different ages on the basis of cell size and DNA and lipid content. Multiparameter fluorescent evaluation of each cell preparation resulted in the assignment of specific staining patterns to Sertoli cells (diploid, high lipid content), spermatogonia (diploid, low lipid content), spermatocytes (large, tetraploid, high lipid content), and round spermatids (haploid, low lipid content). Each field was separately analyzed for inhibin and activin binding. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated activin bound with greatest intensity to spermatogonia, with little binding to leptotene or zygotene spermatocytes. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated inhibin bound to all stages of germ cells tested. Cross-competition data indicate that at least two and probably three distinct receptors exist for these peptides.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. J. Buzzard, K. L. Loveland, M. K. O'Bryan, A. E. O'Connor, M. Bakker, T. Hayashi, N. G. Wreford, J. R. Morrison, and D. M. de Kretser Changes in Circulating and Testicular Levels of Inhibin A and B and Activin A During Postnatal Development in the Rat Endocrinology, July 1, 2004; 145(7): 3532 - 3541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Bernard Editorial Commentary: SMAD Expression in the Testis Predicts Age- and Cell-Specific Responses to Activin and TGF{beta} J Androl, March 1, 2003; 24(2): 201 - 203. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. MacConell, A. M. O. Leal, and W. W. Vale The Distribution of Betaglycan Protein and mRNA in Rat Brain, Pituitary, and Gonads: Implications for a Role for Betaglycan in Inhibin-Mediated Reproductive Functions Endocrinology, March 1, 2002; 143(3): 1066 - 1075. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. R. Kumar, S. Varani, N. G. Wreford, N. M. Telfer, D. M. de Kretser, and M. M. Matzuk Male Reproductive Phenotypes in Double Mutant Mice Lacking Both FSH{beta} and Activin Receptor IIA Endocrinology, August 1, 2001; 142(8): 3512 - 3518. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Zabludoff, M. Charron, J. N. DeCerbo, N. Simukova, and W. W. Wright Male Germ Cells Regulate Transcription of the Cathepsin L Gene by Rat Sertoli Cells Endocrinology, June 1, 2001; 142(6): 2318 - 2327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Harrison, P. G. Farnworth, K. L. Chan, P. G. Stanton, G. T. Ooi, J. K. Findlay, and D. M. Robertson Identification of Specific Inhibin A-Binding Proteins on Mouse Leydig (TM3) and Sertoli (TM4) Cell Lines Endocrinology, April 1, 2001; 142(4): 1393 - 1402. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. M. Pierson, Y. Wang, F. J. DeMayo, M. M. Matzuk, S. Y. Tsai, and B. W. O’Malley Regulable Expression of Inhibin A in Wild-Type and Inhibin {alpha} Null Mice Mol. Endocrinol., July 1, 2000; 14(7): 1075 - 1085. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Bläuer, S. Husgafvel, H. Syvälä, P. Tuohimaa, and T. Ylikomi Identification of a Nuclear Localization Signal in Activin/Inhibin ßA Subunit; Intranuclear ßA in Rat Spermatogenic Cells Biol Reprod, March 1, 1999; 60(3): 588 - 593. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				R. Hertan, P. G. Farnworth, K. L. Fitzsimmons, and D. M. Robertson Identification of High Affinity Binding Sites for Inhibin on Ovine Pituitary Cells in Culture Endocrinology, January 1, 1999; 140(1): 6 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				S. L. Mellor, M. G. Richards, J. S. Pedersen, D. M. Robertson, and G. P. Risbridger Loss of the Expression and Localization of Inhibin {alpha}-Subunit in High Grade Prostate Cancer J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 1998; 83(3): 969 - 975. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. Gnessi, A. Fabbri, and G. Spera Gonadal Peptides as Mediators of Development and Functional Control of the Testis: An Integrated System with Hormones and Local Environment Endocr. Rev., August 1, 1997; 18(4): 541 - 609. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N Gerard, A Corlu, B Kneip, H Kercret, M Rissel, C Guguen-Guillouzo, and B Jegou Liver-regulating protein (LRP) is a plasma membrane protein involved in cell contact-mediated regulation of Sertoli cell function by primary spermatocytes J. Cell Sci., January 3, 1995; 108(3): 917 - 925. [Abstract] [PDF]