Influence of follicle-stimulating hormone on glucose transport by cultured Sertoli cells.

Transport of 3-O-methyl-D-[14C]glucose by Sertoli cells cultured in plastic dishes, is competitively inhibited by glucose (Ki 4 microM). The glucose analogue was therefore used to study glucose transport in these cells in which it is not metabolized. Addition of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (10 micrograms/ml) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) to the cells, increases transport of methylglucose by Sertoli cells. The increased transport results from increased influx and involves decrease in Km without change in Vmax. These changes in the kinetics of transport are seen with both FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. FSH does not stimulate transport of methylglucose in peritubular fibroblasts nor in germ cells. In view of the importance of lactate as a substrate for spermatids (Mita and Hall, 1982) it is proposed that stimulation of the transport of glucose by Sertoli cells in response to FSH is important in the increased production of lactate by these cells in response to FSH and hence is one mechanism by which the tropic hormone enables the Sertoli cell to promote spermatogenesis.