Influence of age, hormones and germ cells on glutathione S-transferase activity in cultured Sertoli cells

Glutathione S-transferase (GSH-S-T) activity was measured, using 1-Cl-2,4-d initrobenzene as substrate, in Sertoli cell cultures obtained from rats age d 10, 18, and 26 days. The GSH-S-T activity showed a significant increase w ith age of the Sertoli cell donor. When cultures were treated with hypotoni c solution, in order to eliminate residual contaminating germ cells, the ag e dependent increase in enzyme activity was less pronounced. FSH, but not t estosterone, increased enzyme activity in all cultures. Addition of freshly isolated germ cells (mainly pachytene spermatocytes) to hypotonic-treated Sertoli cell monolayers enhanced GSH-S-T activity at all ages. It is concluded that GSH-S-T activity can be measured in cultured Sertoli c ells during the period of onset of spermatogenesis (10-26 days). This enzym e activity is dependent on age of the Sertoli cell donor and is influenced by FSH and germ cells. Since GSH-S-Ts are actively engaged in cell detoxifi cative functions through conjugation of xenobiotics with glutathione, the p resent findings suggest that this enzyme may have a relevant protective rol e during the critical period when spermatogenesis is being established.