Effects of seminiferous tubule secreted factor(s) on Leydig cell cyclic AMP production in mature rat

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Abstract
The effects of spent media from seminiferous tubules (STM) on Percoll‐purified rat Leydig cells were investigated. Intracellular and extracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation and testosterone production were measured. After a 5 h incubation period, STM reduces both the basal and LH‐dependent cAMP levels (38 and 20%, respectively for intra‐ and extracellular cAMP) while, simultaneously, a stimulation of testosterone production is observed (47 to 50%, respectively in the absence or presence of LH). The reduction of cAMP levels observed after 5 h is likely to be due to the potentiating effect of the STM factor on the LH‐dependent initial rise of the cAMP level which, in turn, induces a desensitization of the Leydig cell adenylate cyclase. This substance is a thermolabile protein (M r ⪢ 50000) produced by the Sertoli cell, independent of FSH and testosterone controls, and different from the LHRH‐like substance.

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