Sertoli cells actively metabolize glucose that is converted into lactate, which is used by developing germ cells for their energy metabolism. Androgens and oestrogens have general metabolic roles that reach far beyond reproductive processes. Hence, the main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sex hormones on metabolite secretion/consumption in primary cultures of rat Sertoli cells. Sertoli cell-enriched cultures were maintained in a defined medium for 50 h. Glucose and pyruvate consumption, and lactate and alanine secretion were determined, by 1H-NMR (proton NMR) spectra analysis, in the presence or absence of 100 nM E2 (17β-oestradiol) or 100 nM 5α-DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Cells cultured in the absence (control) or presence of E2 consumed the same amount of glucose (29±2 pmol/cell) at similar rates during the 50 h. After 25 h of treatment with DHT, glucose consumption and glucose consumption rate significantly increased. Control and E2-treated cells secreted similar amounts of lactate during the 50 h, while the amount of lactate secreted by DHT-treated cells was significantly lower. Such a decrease was concomitant with a significant decrease in LDH A [LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) chain A] and MCT4 [MCT (monocarboxylate transporter) isoform 4] mRNA levels after 50 h treatment in hormonally treated groups, being more pronounced in DHT-treated groups. Finally, alanine production was significantly increased in E2-treated cells after 25 h treatment, which indicated a lower redox/higher oxidative state for the cells in those conditions. Together, these results support the existence of a relation between sex hormones action and energy metabolism, providing an important assessment of androgens and oestrogens as metabolic modulators in rat Sertoli cells.
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Research Article|
October 10 2011
Metabolic modulation induced by oestradiol and DHT in immature rat Sertoli cells cultured in vitro
Luís Rato;
Luís Rato
1
*CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
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Marco G. Alves;
Marco G. Alves
1
†CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
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Sílvia Socorro;
Sílvia Socorro
*CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
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Rui A. Carvalho;
Rui A. Carvalho
†CNC-Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
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José E. Cavaco;
José E. Cavaco
*CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
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Pedro F. Oliveira
Pedro F. Oliveira
2
*CICS-UBI-Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
2To whom correspondence should be addressed (email [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
March 11 2011
Revision Received:
May 19 2011
Accepted:
June 14 2011
Accepted Manuscript online:
June 14 2011
Online ISSN: 1573-4935
Print ISSN: 0144-8463
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2012 Biochemical Society
2012
Biosci Rep (2012) 32 (1): 61–69.
Article history
Received:
March 11 2011
Revision Received:
May 19 2011
Accepted:
June 14 2011
Accepted Manuscript online:
June 14 2011
Citation
Luís Rato, Marco G. Alves, Sílvia Socorro, Rui A. Carvalho, José E. Cavaco, Pedro F. Oliveira; Metabolic modulation induced by oestradiol and DHT in immature rat Sertoli cells cultured in vitro. Biosci Rep 1 February 2012; 32 (1): 61–69. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20110030
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