Expression of glypican-1, syndecan-1 and syndecan-4 mRNAs protein kinase C-regulated in rat immature Sertoli cells by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis

In seminiferous tubules, Sertoli cells provide structural and nutritional s upport for the developing germinal cells. Cell to cell signalization and ce ll adhesion require proteoglycans expressed at the cell membrane. A prelimi nary biochemical and structural approach indicated that cell surface proteo glycans are mostly heparan sulfate (HSPG) in immature rat Sertoli cells. Th e present study focused on the qualitative and quantitative expression of t hree membrane HSPG, syndecan-1, syndecan-4 and glypican-1 in Sertoli cells of 20-day-old rat. A semiquantitative multiplex RT-PCR strategy was develop ed to appreciate the effect of PKC activation on the mRNA expression of the three HSPG. Our data show that the syndecan-1 and glypican-1 mRNA expressi on is increased by the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) suggesting a regulat ion of their expression by the phosphatidyl inositol pathway, as previously hypothesized (Fagen et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1472 (1999) 250-261). In addition, a physiological effector of the PKC as ATP gave similar effect s. Thus, this overexpression could be related with paracrine factors secret ed by germ cells. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.