Similarity of responses of cultured Sertoli cells to cholera toxin and FSH.

The effects of cholera toxin on the responses of cultured Sertoli cells were compared with those elicited by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and N6O2'-dibutyryl-3',5'-cyclic AMP (bu2cAMP). Addition of FSH or cholera toxin increased cAMP levels. Subsequently there was greater rates of conversion of testosterone to 17beta-estradiol, formation of androgen-binding protein (ABP), and incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA by Sertoli cells prepared from testes of immature rats and cultured in the presence of either FSH or cholera toxin. Addition of bu2-cAMP also resulted in enhanced rates of formation of ABP, synthesis of 17beta-estradiol and synthesis of DNA. Cholera toxin and bu2-cAMP elicited changes in morphology of cultured Sertoli cells indistinguishable from those following FSH addition. It is concluded that elevated intracellular cAMP levels can duplicate known actions of FSH on cultured Sertoli cells, but the possible obligatory role of cAMP in mediating FSH actions remains to be evaluated.