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Pituitary Hormones Inhibit the Function and Differentiation of Fetal Sertoli Cells

Functional Differentiation of Gonads Laboratory, Gametogenesis and Genotoxicity Unit (S.M., C.R., R.H.), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U566-Commissariat á l’Énergie Atomique-Université Paris 7, 92265 Fontenay aux Roses, France; and Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction des Mammifères Domestiques (F.G.), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 1291, 37380 Nouzilly, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. R. Habert, Unité Gamétogenèse et Génotoxicité, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U566-Commissariat á l’Énergie Atomique-Université Paris 7, Département de Radiobiologie et Radioprotection, Bat 5, BP6, Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay aux Roses Cédex, France. E-mail: rene.habert{at}cea.fr.

Although the role of pituitary hormones in fetal Sertoli cell proliferation is well understood, their involvement in fetal Sertoli cell differentiation is poorly documented. In this study, we evaluated rat fetal Sertoli cell function by measuring basal transferrin secretion ex vivo and transferrin and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) mRNA levels in vivo. The differentiation state of the Sertoli cells was estimated from the amount of transferrin secreted ex vivo after acute stimulation with FSH. Surprisingly, we found that the amount of transferrin secreted by each Sertoli cell in basal condition and after acute FSH stimulation decreased between 18.5 and 21.5 day post coitum (dpc), which corresponds to the onset of pituitary hormone secretion. All of the Sertoli cell parameters measured (basal and FSH-stimulated transferrin secretion ex vivo, transferrin and AMH mRNA levels in vivo) were higher in 21.5-dpc fetuses that had been decapitated on 16.5 dpc than in control littermates. Furthermore, immunostaining for AMH was strongly increased after decapitation. Taken together, these results suggest that pituitary hormones in the fetus and in the immature or adult rat differently regulate Sertoli cells, which suggests that fetal Sertoli cells have their own particular physiology.

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