RELATIONSHIP OF A MOUSE SERTOLI-CELL LINE (MSC-1) TO NORMAL SERTOLI CELLS

Recently, a mouse Sertoli cell line (MSC-1) was established from trans genic mice carrying a fusion gene composed of human Mullerian inhibito ry substance transcriptional regulatory sequences linked to the SV40 T -antigen gene. This cell line contained a morphologically heterogeneou s population of cells that expressed characteristic Sertoli cell mRNAs such as transferrin, the beta-subunit for inhibin, and sulfated glyco protein-2 (SGP-2). In this study, we compared various characteristics of MSC-1 cells to primary cultures of Sertoli cells from immature rats or adult mice. Our observations indicated that: 1) These cells were u ltrastructurally similar to mouse Sertoli cells in culture; 2) MSC-1 c ells expressed mRNA for androgen-binding protein (ABP) and SGP-1, but not the receptor for FSH; 3) The expression of SGP-2 mRNA and secretio n of SGP-2 increased approximately 2-fold when cells were cultured at 41 degrees C, the nonpermissive temperature for the SV40 virus, while SGP-1 and transferrin mRNA levels and secretion were unaffected; 4) Pr oliferation of these cells was serum-dose dependent and temperature de pendent and could be inhibited by incubating MSC-1 cells at 41 degrees C; 5) Proliferation was also significantly reduced after cells were i ncubated in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) for 6 days; 6) Fif teen subcultures produced from single MSC-1 cells displayed similar le vels of mRNA expression for transferrin or SGP-1. Together these data indicate that the MSC-1 cell line is composed of a single cell type di splaying numerous characteristics of Sertoli cells. This cell line may provide a unique source of tissue for studying various aspects of Ser toli cell behavior.