In vitro measurement of rate of fluid secretion in rat isolated seminiferous tubules: effects of metabolic inhibitors and ions.

1. An in vitro technique for measuring secretory rate in rat isolated seminiferous tubules is described. 2. The basal rate of fluid secretion was 0-44+/-0-06 nl. cm-1 min-1 (S.E.) (n=21). The rate was found to be inhibited by cooling, addition of metabolic inhibitor 2,4-dinitrophenol (2-5 x 10(-4) M) and removal of glucose from the incubating solution. This indicates that fluid secretion in isolated rat seminiferous tubules is an energy dependent process. 3. Removal of K+ from the incubating medium inhibited the secretory rate in the isolated seminiferous tubules, whereas a fivefold increase in [K+]0 to 23-5 mM had no effect. The secretory rate was also unaffected by the absence of Cl- in the peritubular fluid. 4. Removal of Ca2+ from the peritubular medium caused a rise in the secretory rate. 5. Ouabain (10(-3) M) and acetazolamide (4 x 10(-5) M) caused a fall in the rate of fluid secretion in isolated seminiferous tubules. 6. These results are discussed in relation to the nature of the ionic secretion produced in the tubules.