EFFECT OF INCREASING GLUCOSE-CONCENTRATIONS OIL SERTOLI-CELL STABILITY IN THE NONOBESE DIABETIC MOUSE

Spermatogenesis is severely altered in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mou se in the presence of diabetes. When insulin is administered early in the development of diabetic changes, blunting of the testicular damage results, suggesting a direct causal effect of hyperglycemia on the te sticular alterations. In view of the key role of Sertoli cells in supp orting spermatogenic maturation, it has been speculated that the testi cular damage may be mediated via Sertoli cell effects. The present stu dy utilized Sertoli cell cultures to test the effects of different glu cose levels on cellular viability, Sertoli cells from NOD and control mice were able to survive at glucose concentrations up to 38 mM, when maintained in cult-Lire at constant pH. With higher concentrations, th ere was a progressive loss of viability, comparable in the test and co ntrol animals. Further studies will be needed to determine the specifi c effect of hyperglycemia on Sertoli cells and the association with sp ermatogenic alterations in die NOD mouse.