Amino acid transport in rat Sertoli cell enriched testes: studies on the mechanism of action of follicle stimulating hormone.

1. The in vivo administration of ovine Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (15 mu g/rat, 1 h before measurements) enhanced the transport of Alpha [3-14C]-aminoisobutyric acid ([14C]-AIB) in Sertoli cell enriched testes of 10, 15 and 20-day-old rats. The effect was not observed in 5 or 25-day-old rats. 2. Increasing the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP by means s cholera toxin, exogenous cyclic AMP or 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine did not change either the control or the FSH-stimulated uptake of [14C]-AIB. 3. The inhibition of glycoprotein synthesis by tunicamycin decreased the uptake of [14C]-AIB in controls and significantly reduced (24%) the effect of FSH on [14C]-AIB transport in Sertoli cell enriched testes.