Stimulation of transport of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid into the testes of immature mice in vivo by follicle-stimulating hormone.

Abstract

Groups of immature mice were injected sc with radiocarbon-labelled alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) after being given a single sc injection of hFSH or of 0.9% saline. As an index of the transport of AIB, the specific activity of isotope was measured in homogenates of testis and of liver. FSH treatment caused statistically significant increases in the specific activity of isotope in the testes and in the ratio of testicular to liver specific activity. The effect was greatest in 9-day-old mice injected with FSH 16 h before removal of the testes. Uptake of labelled AIB was not stimulated after administration of hCG or testosterone. Doses of cycloheximide sufficient to reduce the rate of protein synthesis by over 99% did not impair testicular uptake of labelled AIB or the influence of FSH on AIB uptake. These results suggest that FSH stimulates amino acid transport into cells of the immature testis and that this action is independent of the stimulatory effect of FSH on testicular protein synthesis.