In-vitro secretion of inhibin-like activity by Sertoli cells from normal and prenatally irradiated immature rats

The influence of in-vitro conditions on the production of inhibin by Sertoli cells from 21-day-old normal and prenatally irradiated rat testes was studied by measuring inhibin activity in culture media, using the suppression of the release of FSH from cultured rat pituitary cells. Sertoli cells secreted inhibin-like activity during at least 21 days of culture, and cells cultured at 37 degrees C produced significantly more inhibin than those cultured at 32 degrees C. The presence of fetal calf serum had no significant effect on inhibin production at 32 degrees C, while at 37 degrees C the production was decreased. The presence of ovine FSH stimulated inhibin secretion, while inhibin concentrations in Sertoli cell culture media were decreased after the addition of testosterone. Testosterone, added together with ovine FSH, suppressed inhibin secretion when compared with the levels found in the presence of FSH alone. The presence of spermatogenic cells decreased the release of inhibin. From these results it was concluded that both Sertoli cells isolated from normal immature rat testes and those from testes without spermatogenic cells can secrete inhibin-like activity in culture. A number of discrepancies with in-vivo observations was observed. Therefore, it is likely that the in-vivo situation is too complicated for direct study of the regulation of inhibin production, because of mutual interactions between the testicular compartments.