Vitamin A modifies the glycopeptide composition of cultured Sertoli cells.

Sertoli cells obtained from prepubertal rat testes were cultured in the presence or absence of retinol. Incorporation of monosaccharides and glycopeptide composition of the cells were studied under two experimental conditions. The results indicate that retinol increases the amount of mannose and glucosamine incorporated into cellular glycoconjugates. The labeled glycopeptides obtained from control and retinol-treated cells were separated by size and lectin affinity. Gel filtration analysis showed no size differences between the glycopeptides obtained from control and vitamin A-treated cells. Affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A and Wheat Germ Agglutinin of 3H-mannose-labeled glycopeptides showed that Sertoli cells cultured in the presence of retinol contain a higher percentage of high mannose-type glycopeptides compared with control cells. The effect of retinol on Sertoli cell glycopeptide composition is partially reversed by the administration of FSH.