Endocrinology, Vol 133, 1664-1668, Copyright © 1993 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Effects of activin-A, inhibin-A, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 on stage-specific deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis during rat seminiferous epithelial cycle

H Hakovirta, A Kaipia, O Soder and M Parvinen
Department of Anatomy, University of Turku, Finland.

Activin and inhibin are members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) gene family. They are expressed in various organ systems, where they possess regulatory functions. Inhibin, activin, and TGF beta have been reported to also be expressed in the adult rat testis. We studied in vitro the action of these growth factors on premitotic and premeiotic DNA synthesis during the rat seminiferous epithelial cycle. Two-millimeter rat seminiferous tubule segments were isolated by transillumination-assisted microdissection from stages V, VIIa, VIII- IX, and I of the cycle and incubated in vitro in the presence of activin-A, inhibin-A, or TGF beta 1. During 24-, 48-, and 72-h incubation spontaneous progression of spermatogenesis was noted. The staged samples allowed us to selectively quantitate DNA synthetic activity of specific germ cell types. At the end of the culture, the tubules were pulse labeled with [3H]thymidine, and DNA synthesis was quantified by liquid scintillation counting, and the activated cells were detected by autoradiography. Activin-A stimulated preleptotene spermatocyte DNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. DNA synthesis of intermediate spermatogonia was also stimulated by activin-A, whereas inhibin-A inhibited DNA synthesis of these cells. TGF beta 1 had a small, but significant, stimulatory effect on DNA synthetic activity at stage VII. These results support the view that activin-A, inhibin-A, and TGF beta 1 take part in the regulation of DNA synthesis during rat spermatogenesis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Voge and J. E. Wheaton Effects of immunization against two inhibin antigens on daily sperm production and hormone concentrations in ram lambs J Anim Sci, December 1, 2007; 85(12): 3249 - 3255. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S-Y Lin, J R Morrison, M M Matzuk, and D M de Kretser Spermatogenesis does not require the local production of follistatin. Reproduction, October 1, 2006; 132(4): 601 - 605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y Okuma, A E O'Connor, T Hayashi, K L Loveland, D M de Kretser, and M P Hedger Regulated production of activin A and inhibin B throughout the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the rat. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 190(2): 331 - 340. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A Wagener, J Fickel, J Schon, A Fritzenkotter, F Goritz, and S Blottner Seasonal variation in expression and localization of testicular transforming growth factors TGF-{beta}1 and TGF-{beta}3 corresponds with spermatogenic activity in roe deer J. Endocrinol., November 1, 2005; 187(2): 205 - 215. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y Okuma, K Saito, A E O'Connor, D J Phillips, D M de Kretser, and M P Hedger Reciprocal regulation of activin A and inhibin B by interleukin-1 (IL-1) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in rat Sertoli cells in vitro J. Endocrinol., April 1, 2005; 185(1): 99 - 110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Charron, J. N. DeCerbo, and W. W. Wright A GC-Box Within the Proximal Promoter Region of the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Activates Transcription in Sertoli Cells of Sexually Mature Rats Biol Reprod, May 1, 2003; 68(5): 1649 - 1656. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Charron, J. S. Folmer, and W. W. Wright A 3-Kilobase Region Derived from the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Directs In Vivo Expression of a Reporter Gene in Sertoli Cells in a Manner Comparable to That of the Endogenous Gene Biol Reprod, May 1, 2003; 68(5): 1641 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Kaneko, J. Noguchi, K. Kikuchi, and Y. Hasegawa Molecular Weight Forms of Inhibin A and Inhibin B in the Bovine Testis Change with Age Biol Reprod, May 1, 2003; 68(5): 1918 - 1925. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. Rao, C. M. Wayne, M. L. Meistrich, and M. F. Wilkinson Pem Homeobox Gene Promoter Sequences that Direct Transcription in a Sertoli Cell-Specific, Stage-Specific, and Androgen-Dependent Manner in the Testis in Vivo Mol. Endocrinol., February 1, 2003; 17(2): 223 - 233. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-C. Hofmann, K. S. Van Der Wee, J. L. Dargart, G. Dirami, L. Dettin, and M. Dym Establishment and Characterization of Neonatal Mouse Sertoli Cell Lines J Androl, January 1, 2003; 24(1): 120 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Lopez, F. Vidal, L. Martin, L. A. Lopez-Fernandez, J.-F. Rual, B. S. Rosen, F. Cuzin, and M. Rassoulzadegan Gene Control in Germinal Differentiation: Rnf6, a Transcription Regulatory Protein in the Mouse Sertoli Cell Mol. Cell. Biol., May 15, 2002; 22(10): 3488 - 3496. [Abstract] [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]

				I. Goddard, S. Bauer, A. Gougeon, F. Lopez, N. Giannetti, C. Susini, M. Benahmed, and S. Krantic Somatostatin Inhibits Stem Cell Factor Messenger RNA Expression by Sertoli Cells and Stem Cell Factor-Induced DNA Synthesis in Isolated Seminiferous Tubules Biol Reprod, December 1, 2001; 65(6): 1732 - 1742. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Kaneko, J. Noguchi, K. Kikuchi, S. Akagi, A. Shimada, K. Taya, G. Watanabe, and Y. Hasegawa Production and Endocrine Role of Inhibin During the Early Development of Bull Calves Biol Reprod, July 1, 2001; 65(1): 209 - 215. [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]

				J.H. Bame, J.C. Dalton, S.D. Degelos, T.E.M. Good, J.L.H. Ireland, F. Jimenez-Krassel, T. Sweeney, R.G. Saacke, and J.J. Ireland Effect of Long-Term Immunization against Inhibin on Sperm Output in Bulls Biol Reprod, June 1, 1999; 60(6): 1360 - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. Di Simone, H. A. Hall, C. Welt, and A. L. Schneyer Activin Regulates {beta}A-Subunit and Activin Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid and Cellular Proliferation in Activin-Responsive Testicular Tumor Cells Endocrinology, March 1, 1998; 139(3): 1147 - 1155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Lejeune, F. Chuzel, P. Sanchez, P. Durand, J. P. Mather, and J. M. Saez Stimulating Effect of Both Human Recombinant Inhibin A and Activin A on Immature Porcine Leydig Cell Functions in Vitro Endocrinology, November 1, 1997; 138(11): 4783 - 4791. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				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]