Abstract

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 α may be produced both by Sertoli cells and immature male germ cells from rat and is thought to play a role in autocrine and/or paracrine regulation of the spermatogenesis. The localization of IL-1 receptors in seminiferous tubules is unknown. In this study we found a constitutive expression of IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1 RI) mRNA in cultured Sertoli cells and peritubular cells from rat, whereas no such transcripts were observed in immature germ cells (pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids). An autostimulation of IL-1 α mRNA synthesis has previously been described in other cell types. Stimulation of Sertoli cells with recombinant IL-1 α for 0–7 h resulted in a rapid increase in both IL-1 α and IL-1 RI mRNA. When Sertoli cells were cultured with residual bodies for 0–48 h, mRNA levels for both IL-1 α and IL-1 RI were increased in a biphasic manner. We suggest that phagocytosis of residual bodies triggers an autocrine IL-1 α loop in Sertoli cells where both IL-1 α and one of its receptors are stimulated.

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