Differentiating effects of somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor I and insulin on Leydig and Sertoli cell functions.

Using an in vitro system of pig Leydig cells (LC) and Sertoli cells (SC) we have demonstrated that: 1) LC contained specific receptors for both somatomedin-C/insulin-like growth factor I (Sm-C/IGF-I) and insulin, whereas SC contained only Sm-C/IGF-I receptors; 2) pretreatment of LC with insulin or Sm-C/IGF-I increased hCG receptor number and the cAMP and testosterone responses to this hormone. The enhanced steroidogenic capacity was related to an increased activity of several enzymes of the steroidogenic pathway. At physiological concentrations Sm-C/IGF-I was more potent than insulin, but the effects of the latter peptide at micromolar concentrations were similar to those produced by nanomolar concentrations of Sm-C/IGF-I. However, at maximal concentrations of both peptides, there was no additive effect; 3) the specificity of the effect of Sm-C/IGF-I was proven by the fact that all the effects induced by this peptide, but not by insulin, were blunted by an anti-Sm-C/IGF-I antibody; 4) pretreatment of SC with Sm-C/IGF-I at nM concentrations or with insulin (but only at microM concentrations) enhanced the stimulatory effect of FSH on cAMP production and the secretion of plasminogen activator; 5) in both LH and SC, Sm-C/IGF-I had small mitogenic effects but potentiated the mitogenic action of fibroblast growth factor (FGF). The effect of insulin was observed only at microM concentrations; 6) SC secreted a factor which had physico-chemical and biological properties similar to that of Sm-C/IGF-I. The secretion of this factor was stimulated by FGF and EGF.