ESTROGENS POTENTIATE THE STIMULATORY EFFECTS OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE ON N-CADHERIN MESSENGER-RIBONUCLEIC-ACID LEVELS IN CULTURED MOUSE SERTOLI CELLS
Cd. Maccalman et al., ESTROGENS POTENTIATE THE STIMULATORY EFFECTS OF FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE ON N-CADHERIN MESSENGER-RIBONUCLEIC-ACID LEVELS IN CULTURED MOUSE SERTOLI CELLS, Endocrinology, 138(1), 1997, pp. 41-48
Gonadal steroids and FSH are key regulators of Sertoli cell function.
N-Cadherin (N-cad) is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule that
mediates Sertoli cell-germ cell interactions. We recently demonstrated
that steroids, in particular estradiol, are potent regulators of test
icular N-cad messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in vivo. In view of the coope
rative effects of steroids and FSH on Sertoli cell-germ cell interacti
ons, we examined the combined effects of these hormones on N-cad mRNA
levels in cultured mouse Sertoli cells. FSH was capable of increasing
N-cad mRNA levels 2-fold in these cells. The effects of FSH on N-cad m
RNA levels in cultured Sertoli cells were mimicked by cAMP-inducing ag
ents. Treatment of the Sertoli cell cultures with FSH and estradiol st
imulated N-cad mRNA levels 3-fold, whereas steroids alone had no effec
t on N-cad mRNA levels. These studies demonstrate that FSH and estradi
ol in combination are required to achieve maximal N-cad mRNA levels in
cultured Sertoli cells. The results obtained from these studies subst
antiate the hypothesis that estrogens play a pivotal role in regulatin
g spermatogenesis.