Sertoli cell function varies along the seminiferous tubule: the proportion and response of transferrin secretors differ between stage-associated tubule segments.

Recent studies from our laboratory demonstrated clearly that only a portion of all Sertoli cells secrete transferrin (TF). These findings raised the possibility that differences in the functional type of Sertoli cells from one location to another may account in part for the stage-related variation in TF release along the seminiferous tubule. In order to address this, Sertoli cells derived from tubule segments corresponding to stages III-V, VII, IX-XI, and XIII of the seminiferous epithelial cycle were subjected to reverse hemolytic plaque assays to determine whether the proportion of TF cells present in those segments were similar or different. We found 21.4 +/- 1.8%, 20.3 +/- 2.0%, 48.3 +/- 2.5%, and 49.2 +/- 3.2% of all cells secreted TF in III-V, VII, IX-XI, and XIII staged segments, respectively. Results obtained from immunocytochemical staining of cells from different sections agreed well with those obtained with plaque assays, indicating that we had detected most, if not all, TF cells in these cultures. In additional experiments, we found that cultured cells from stage III-V and VII responded to FSH or isoproterenol with a large increase in the rate of TF plaque formation, whereas cells from IX-XI and XIII segments appeared to be unaffected. In contrast, bovine fibroblast growth factor caused a marked increase in the rate of TF plaque formation with IX-XI cells and only a slight increase with cells from III-V staged segments. Thus, the manner in which Sertoli cells respond to several modulatory agents appears not only to be stage-dependent, but also to be specific to the agent in question. When taken together, our observations demonstrate that cultured TF secretors obtained from different staged segments of the seminiferous tubule differ in proportion and responsiveness. These findings, when viewed in light of reports of a constant number of Sertoli cells along the seminiferous tubule, suggest that Sertoli cells may acquire and lose the ability to secrete TF or respond to modulation as the seminiferous cycle progresses.