Biomaterial Database

Germ cell-Sertoli cell interactions: regulation by germ cells of the stage-specific expression of CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA by Sertoli cells. 1995

W W Wright, and S D Zabludoff, and T L Penttilä, and M Parvinen

Department of Population Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.

CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA is expressed primarily by rat Sertoli cells within stage VI-VIII seminiferous tubules. To test whether germ cells regulated this expression, we examined if separating Sertoli cells from specific germ cells affected expression of this transcript in Sertoli cells. First, Sertoli cells were isolated from adult (90-day-old) and immature (25-day-old) rats and levels of this transcript measured immediately or after 1, 3 and 5 days in culture. Results demonstrated that immediately upon isolation, CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA levels were significantly higher in mature cells. However, after 1 day in culture, the levels of this transcript increased in immature cells and remained high in mature cells. We therefore conclude that in vivo, a subset of germ cells inhibit the expression of CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA by immature Sertoli cells. Second, to examine the effect of specific germ cells on CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA expression, we exposed the testes of mature rats to 3 Gy of gamma-radiation and analyzed stage-specific expression of this transcript at varying times during maturation depletion and subsequent germ cell restoration. Loss of spermatogonia or spermatocytes was without effect. However, when pachytene spermatocytes through step 14 spermatids were depleted, expression at stages VI-VIII was reduced by half and expression at stages IX-I was increased 14-fold. These changes resulted in the loss of stage-specific expression of CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA by Sertoli cells. Finally, stage VI-VIII tubules, depleted primarily in step 15-19 spermatids, had levels of CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA that were 60% of control. However, stage-specific expression of this transcript was detected in these tubules. In contrast to what we noted with CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA, loss and restoration of germ cells had no effect on Sertoli cell levels of SGP-2 mRNA, indicating that testicular irradiation had no overall effect on Sertoli cell function. Taken together, these data suggest that the stage-specific expression of the CP-2/cathepsin L gene results from the sequential stimulation and inhibition of Sertoli cells by germ cells, that pachytene spermatocytes through step 14 spermatids are required for this stage-specific expression and that step 18 and 19 spermatids amplify this expression at stages VI-VIII.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010450	Endopeptidases	A subclass of PEPTIDE HYDROLASES that catalyze the internal cleavage of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS.	Endopeptidase,Peptide Peptidohydrolases
D002403	Cathepsins	A group of lysosomal proteinases or endopeptidases found in aqueous extracts of a variety of animal tissues. They function optimally within an acidic pH range. The cathepsins occur as a variety of enzyme subtypes including SERINE PROTEASES; ASPARTIC PROTEINASES; and CYSTEINE PROTEASES.	Cathepsin
D002450	Cell Communication	Any of several ways in which living cells of an organism communicate with one another, whether by direct contact between cells or by means of chemical signals carried by neurotransmitter substances, hormones, and cyclic AMP.	Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interaction,Cell Communications,Cell Interactions,Cell to Cell Interaction,Cell-to-Cell Interactions,Communication, Cell,Communications, Cell,Interaction, Cell,Interaction, Cell-to-Cell,Interactions, Cell,Interactions, Cell-to-Cell
D003546	Cysteine Endopeptidases	ENDOPEPTIDASES which have a cysteine involved in the catalytic process. This group of enzymes is inactivated by CYSTEINE PROTEINASE INHIBITORS such as CYSTATINS and SULFHYDRYL REAGENTS.
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
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
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
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
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