Elements of the kallikrein-kinin system are present in rat seminiferous epithelium

Peptide hormones are involved in the paracrine regulation of several physiological processes. A possible function of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) in mammalian reproduction has been discussed. To evaluate its putative role in spermatogenesis, we searched for components of the KKS (kallikrein, kininases, kinin receptor) in the rat testis. Specific immunostaining demonstrated that the kininogenase tissue kallikrein was present in round and elongated spermatids. Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, peritubular cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes were not stained. Bradykinin in the supernatant of Sertoli cell cultures was effectively degraded. The resulting metabolites were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Specific protease inhibition in the degrading experiments confirmed the occurrence of several metalloproteases on Sertoli cell membranes, including neutral metalloendopeptidases (NEP 24.11 and NEP 24.15), kininase type II (angiotensin converting enzyme, ACE), and kininase type I (metallocarboxypeptidase). Northern blots hybridized with a bradykinin B2 receptor probe showed the presence of B2 receptor mRNA in testis homogenate and Sertoli cell extract. All components of the kallikrein-kinin system are present within the seminiferous epithelium of the rat. Therefore, this paracrine peptide system may play a role in the regulation of Sertoli cell function or in the Sertoli cell-germ cell crosstalk.