Dmrt1 expression is regulated by follicle-stimulating hormone and phorbol esters in postnatal Sertoli cells

Dmrt1 is a recently described gene that is expressed exclusively in the testis and is required for postnatal testis differentiation. Here we describe the expression of Dmrt1 in postnatal rat testis and Sertoli cells. RNase protection analysis was used to examine Dmrt1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in intact testis during postnatal development and in primary cultures of Sertoli cells under various culture conditions. We show that Dmrt1 mRNA levels rise significantly beginning approximately 10 days after birth and remain elevated until after the third postnatal week. Thereafter, mRNA levels drop coincident with the proliferation of germ cells in the testis. In freshly isolated Sertoli cells, Dmrt1 mRNA levels were robust but decreased significantly when the cells were placed in culture for 24 h. Treatment of Sertoli cells with either FSH or 8-bromo-cAMP resulted in a significant rise in Dmrt1 mRNA levels. This cAMP response was sensitive to treatment with the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D but not to the translational inhibitor cycloheximide. The cAMP-dependent rise in Dmrt1 mRNA also required activation of protein kinase A, as mRNA induction was sensitive to the inhibitor H89. Studies also show that Dmrt1 expression was inhibited by phorbol esters (PMA) but only modestly effected by serum.