[Metabolic characterization of rat sertoli cell in vitro culture]

Sertoli cell (SC) is intrinsic to the testis and provides an appropriate growth environment for the germ cells. It was separated from rat's testis and identified by hematoxylin and eosin staining(HE) and immunocytochemical reaction, then cultivated in vitro. Culture conditions such as pH, osmotic pressure and metabolic parameters that include consumption rates of glucose, glutamine, amino acids and formation rates of lactic acid, ammonium ion were investigated. It was showed that adhesion process of SCs was accomplished within 2-4 hours after inoculation. It was also observed that the SCs entered into the decline phase when the concentration of ammonium ion and lactic acid were above 2.3 mmol/L and 14 mmol/L, respectively, which caused osmotic pressure above 326 mosm/kg and pH below 6.8 in the medium. As the changes of amino acids during culture were concerned, Glu and Ala accumulated rapidly, while Val, Leu, Ile reduced slightly and at the same time Ser, Arg, and Gly were stable. The restrict factors for SCs grown in static culture might be high osmotic pressure and low pH, which were generated when glutamine and glucose were metabolized into lactic acid. The findings could be fundamental in the process optimization of large scale Sertoli cells in vitro culture.