Biomaterial Database

Spermatogenic onset. II. FSH modulates mitotic activity of germ and Sertoli cells in immature rats. 1988

I Almirón, and H Chemes

Laboratory of Testicular Physiology and Pathology, Buenos Aires Children's Hospital, Buenos, Argentina.

By using high doses of testosterone propionate (TP) endogenous FSH was lowered to non-detectable levels in immature rats of different ages. Combined administration of TP and human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG) or purified human FSH (hFSH) restored circulating FSH to normal or supranormal levels. This experimental model was used to investigate the influences of hormones on the proliferation of Sertoli and germ cells. Mitoses in seminiferous tubules were counted after being blocked by administration of colchicine. The mitotic index so determined showed a reduction with FSH withdrawal and a significant increase when the hormone levels were restored. Testicular DNA content was determined in testicular homogenates and showed similar changes. Autoradiographs were prepared and 3H-thymidine incorporation into germ and Sertoli cells was quantified. It was found that hFSH induced a significant increase in the labelling indices of gonocytes, type A-spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. All of these changes were effective in rats younger than 10 days but no modifications in any of the parameters under study were observed after 20 days. It is concluded that FSH exerts a stimulatory effect on the proliferation of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells and testicular DNA content during the first 10 days of life.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008596	Menotropins	Extracts of urine from menopausal women that contain high concentrations of pituitary gonadotropins, FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE and LUTEINIZING HORMONE. Menotropins are used to treat infertility. The FSH:LH ratio and degree of purity vary in different preparations.	Gonadotropins, Human Menopausal,Human Menopausal Gonadotropin,CP-89044,CP-90033,HMG Ferring,HMG Lepori,HMG Massone,Humegon,Menogon,Menopur,Menotrophin,Normegon,ORG-31338,Pergonal,Pergonal-500,CP 89044,CP 90033,CP89044,CP90033,Gonadotropin, Human Menopausal,Human Menopausal Gonadotropins,Lepori, HMG,Menopausal Gonadotropin, Human,ORG 31338,ORG31338,Pergonal 500,Pergonal500
D008940	Mitotic Index	An expression of the number of mitoses found in a stated number of cells.	Index, Mitotic,Indices, Mitotic,Mitotic Indices
D003078	Colchicine	A major alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale L. and found also in other Colchicum species. Its primary therapeutic use is in the treatment of gout, but it has been used also in the therapy of familial Mediterranean fever (PERIODIC DISEASE).	Colchicine, (+-)-Isomer,Colchicine, (R)-Isomer
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
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
D012741	Sexual Maturation	Achievement of full sexual capacity in animals and in humans.	Sex Maturation,Maturation, Sex,Maturation, Sexual
D013091	Spermatogenesis	The process of germ cell development in the male from the primordial germ cells, through SPERMATOGONIA; SPERMATOCYTES; SPERMATIDS; to the mature haploid SPERMATOZOA.	Spermatocytogenesis,Spermiogenesis