The Effect of Estrogen on Sertoli Cell Function

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The use of adult rats as a model to determine whether chronic estrogen treatment irreversibly alters the capacity of Sertoli cells to secrete androgen binding protein (ABP) was described. Twenty-five adult rats were implanted with silastic tubing containing 17.beta.-estradiol. After 1 mo. of estradiol the epididymides regressed to 47% of the wt of the epididymides in a control group. The amount of ABP in control epididymides was 9.9 fmol/mg protein, while no ABP was detectable in those from rats treated with estradiol for 1 mo. Serum testosterone levels was depressed by 90%. Estradiol treatment for 8 mo. resulted in a 60% lower body wt and a 91% decrease in testicular wt compared to control animals. During this period the epididymides regressed significantly. When Sertoli cells were cultured from the testes of the estradiol implanted rats, in spite of the dramatic changes which occurred in the testes, within 4 days the cultured cells synthesized ABP in response to FSH and testosterone. Furthermore, the direct addition of estrogen at a concentration of 200 ng/ml to rat Sertoli cell cultures failed to depress ABP below control levels. Although estradiol depresses ABP synthesis in vivo, probably through its depression of both gonadotropin secretion and testosterone biosynthesis, it has no direct effect on the Sertoli cells, and its long-term inhibition of ABP synthesis by an indirect mechanism is reversible.