Biomaterial Database

Plasma membranes from rat Sertoli cells: purification and properties. 1986

D Kew, and K E Muffly, and P F Hall

A method is reported for preparing surface (plasma) membranes from rat Sertoli cells. The procedure is based upon homogenization in hypotonic buffer, extraction in a two-phase system, and sedimentation through two sucrose density gradients. The purified membranes consist of large sheets of membrane. The identity and purity of the membranes was demonstrated by electron microscopy, enzyme markers, and functional activities associated with the membranes (binding of follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and production of cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate [cAMP]. Electron microscopy showed membranes with small fragments of cytoplasm attached to the inside of the membrane sheets. Marker enzymes for plasma membrane (5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase) showed more than 16- and 6-fold enrichment, respectively, and other enzymes showed that contamination by nuclei, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, or cytosol was negligible. Binding of FSH was found to be specific, with KD 1.2 nM and the equivalent of 7500 sites per cell. This binding was enriched 20-fold compared to whole homogenate. Production of cAMP by membranes was increased by addition of FSH and by forskolin to the purified membranes in vitro.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D011962	Receptors, FSH	Cell surface proteins that bind FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells.	FSH Receptors,Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptors,Receptors, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,FSH Receptor,Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor,Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor,Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptors,Hormone Receptor, Follicle-Stimulating,Hormone Receptors, Follicle-Stimulating,Receptor, FSH,Receptor, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,Receptors, Follicle Stimulating Hormone
D002458	Cell Fractionation	Techniques to partition various components of the cell into SUBCELLULAR FRACTIONS.	Cell Fractionations,Fractionation, Cell,Fractionations, Cell
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D005640	Follicle Stimulating Hormone	A major gonadotropin secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates GAMETOGENESIS and the supporting cells such as the ovarian GRANULOSA CELLS, the testicular SERTOLI CELLS, and LEYDIG CELLS. FSH consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH, LH, and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity.	FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone),Follicle-Stimulating Hormone,Follitropin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012708	Sertoli Cells	Supporting cells projecting inward from the basement membrane of SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES. They surround and nourish the developing male germ cells and secrete the ANDROGEN-BINDING PROTEIN and hormones such as ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE. The tight junctions of Sertoli cells with the SPERMATOGONIA and SPERMATOCYTES provide a BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER.	Sertoli Cell,Cell, Sertoli,Cells, Sertoli
D014461	Ultracentrifugation	Centrifugation with a centrifuge that develops centrifugal fields of more than 100,000 times gravity. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)