Desensitization of cultured rat Sertoli cells by follicle-stimulating hormone and by L-isoproterenol.

When Sertoli cell-enriched cultures derived from 19-day-old Wistar rats are exposed to FSH or L-isoproterenol, cAMP accumulates in the medium. Previous contact of cultured cells with either one of these agents results in a reversible state of desensitization. During secondary stimulation up to 20 times less cAMP accumulates in the medium and in the cells. The extent of desensitization depends on the concentration of FSH or L-isoproterenol to which the cells have been exposed and on the duration of this previous contact. Pre-incubation with FSH results in cross-desensitization for L-isoproterenol. Comparable heterologous desensitization is not observed after pre-incubation with L-isoproterenol. This suggests that down-regulation of the respective receptors cannot be the only explanation. Refractoriness can also be induced by dbcAMP. This opens the possibility that cAMP itself contributes to the homologous and heterologous desensitization process.