Identification and characterization of a β1-adrenergic receptor in the rat sertoli cell

Abstract

The β 1-adrenergic receptor of rat Sertoli cells was characterized by measurement of the ability of adrenergic receptor agonists and antagonists to stimulate cAMP accumulation in Sertoli cells from 18-day-old rats. Epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol stimulate cAMP accumulation in Sertoli cells which is not additive with maximal doses of FSH and which is age-dependent. β-antagonists, alprenolol, hydroxybenzylpindolol or propranolol inhibit isoproterenol-induced cAMP accumulation while α-adrenergic antagonists have no effect. Dobutamine and soterenol stimulated cAMP accumulation to a greater extent than albuterol and metoproterenol. Finally, the stimulatory effects of isoproterenol and zinterol are both more sensitive to inhibition by β 1-antagonists than by β 2-antagonists. Taken together these data indicate the presence of a β 1-adrenergic receptor in Sertoli cells which is coupled to adenylate cyclase.