Secretion of proteins, androgen binding protein and oestradiol by Sertoli cells in culture: effects of serum.

Effects of chicken- and foetal calf serum on secretion products of Sertoli cells have been investigated. At day 5 or 6 of culture, Sertoli cells incubated with 1% chicken serum secreted significantly more androgen binding protein (ABP) than cells cultured in media without chicken serum. This effect of chicken serum was smaller than that of chicken serum together with FSH and testosterone. Addition of 1% chicken serum or foetal calf serum stimulated the incorporation of [3H]leucine in secreted proteins by Sertoli cells. Secretion of oestradiol-17 beta (Oe2) was stimulated by addition of foetal calf serum. However, chicken serum did not stimulate the secretion of Oe2 even in the presence of extra added testosterone. The nature of the compounds in the sera responsible for these effects is unknown, but the effects cannot simply be explained by the presence of FSH or androgens. The results indicate that compounds other than FSH and androgens may influence Sertoli cell function. Evidence has been obtained that a serum component with a molecular weight of less than 5000 may be involved in the stimulation of Oe2 production.