Biology of Reproduction, Vol 58, 431-438, Copyright © 1998 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

ARTICLES

In vitro regulation of an inducible-type NO synthase in the rat seminiferous tubule cells

F Bauche, JP Stephan, AM Touzalin and B Jegou
Groupe d'Etude de la Reproduction chez le Male, INSERM U-435, Universite de Rennes I, Bretagne, France.

Rat Sertoli cells express an inducible nitric oxide synthase isoform (iNOS) in response to the combined addition of the cytokines-- interferon gamma (IFNgamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha)--and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). We demonstrated that the addition of cytokines and lipopolysaccharides (C+L) to cultured peritubular cells resulted in high nitrite and iNOS mRNA levels, indicating the induction of an iNOS isoform. This enzyme was not induced in cultured pachytene spermatocytes or spermatids. Nitrite production in Sertoli cells and peritubular cells required both IFNgamma and TNF alpha and was potentiated by LPS, whereas IL-1alpha was ineffective. The induction of nitrite production and iNOS mRNA by IFNgamma+TNF alpha+LPS could be further enhanced by basic fibroblast growth factor in Sertoli cells but not in peritubular cells. In contrast, transforming growth factor beta markedly reduced this induction in peritubular cells but had no effect on Sertoli cells. FSH positively modulated the C+L-induced iNOS in Sertoli cells. Dibutyryl cAMP had a synergistic effect with C+L on NOS activity in both Sertoli cells and peritubular cells. In contrast, testosterone did not influence basal or induced NOS activity in these two cell types. These data show that NOS activity in the somatic cells of the seminiferous tubules is induced and regulated by multiple factors that act in combination, and suggest that nitric oxide may participate in the endocrine and paracrine control of testicular function.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Cerec, C. Piquet-Pellorce, H. A.A. Aly, A.-M. Touzalin, B. Jegou, and F. Bauche Multiple Pathways for Cationic Amino Acid Transport in Rat Seminiferous Tubule Cells Biol Reprod, February 1, 2007; 76(2): 241 - 249. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H. Liew, S. J. Meachem, and M. P. Hedger A Stereological Analysis of the Response of Spermatogenesis to an Acute Inflammatory Episode in Adult Rats J Androl, January 1, 2007; 28(1): 176 - 185. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Ishikawa and P. L. Morris Interleukin-1{beta} Signals through a c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase-Dependent Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Nitric Oxide Production Pathway in Sertoli Epithelial Cells Endocrinology, November 1, 2006; 147(11): 5424 - 5430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. P.Y. Lee and C. Y. Cheng Nitric Oxide/Nitric Oxide Synthase, Spermatogenesis, and Tight Junction Dynamics Biol Reprod, February 1, 2004; 70(2): 267 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. P. Y. Lee and C. Yan Cheng Regulation of Sertoli Cell Tight Junction Dynamics in the Rat Testis via the Nitric Oxide Synthase/Soluble Guanylate Cyclase/3',5'-Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate/Protein Kinase G Signaling Pathway: an in Vitro Study Endocrinology, July 1, 2003; 144(7): 3114 - 3129. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Shiraishi, K. Naito, and K.-i. Yoshida Nitric Oxide Promotes Germ Cell Necrosis in the Delayed Phase after Experimental Testicular Torsion of Rat Biol Reprod, August 1, 2001; 65(2): 514 - 521. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. O'Bryan, S. Schlatt, O. Gerdprasert, D. J. Phillips, D. M. de Kretser, and M. P. Hedger Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Rat Testis: Evidence for Potential Roles in Both Normal Function and Inflammation-Mediated Infertility Biol Reprod, November 1, 2000; 63(5): 1285 - 1293. [Abstract] [Full Text]