Expression of the enkephalin precursor gene in rat Sertoli cells

Abstract
Searching for somatic cells expressing the preproenkephalin (A) gene in the testis, we have isolated Sertoli cells from the testes of 20-day-old rats. Cultured Sertoli cells contained a single species (about 1.5 kb) of preroenkephalin mRNA, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) transiently increased the mRNA abundance to a maximum (about 30 molecules per cell) at 12 h. Various compounds that activate the cyclic AMP system in Sertoli cells similarly increased the abundance of preproenkephalin mRNA. Moreover, FHS increased intracellular Met-enkephalin immunoreactive peptides in Sertoli cells. Thusthe preproenkephalin gene expression in Sertoli is positvely regulated by FSH through the cyclic AMP system.