Effect of lead acetate on Sertoli cell lactate production and protein synthesis in vitro.

The effects of lead acetate on protein synthesis and lactate production by cultures of rat Sertoli cells in vitro were studied. Sertoli cell cultures prepared from 20 day old Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10 mM lead acetate. Lactate production was significantly elevated by all concentrations of lead after 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours of exposure. Protein biosynthesis as measured by [3H]-leucine incorporation was significantly depressed by 0.05 and 0.10 mM lead acetate after 2 hours of exposure. These results support the hypothesis that lead acetate may inhibit spermatogenesis by a disturbance of the metabolic activities of the Sertoli cells.