Stage-specific regulation of plasminogen activator secretion in the rat seminiferous epithelium

The cyclic secretion of plasminogen activator (PA) by Sertoli cells in stages VII and VIII of the rat seminiferous epithelial cycle is influenced by hormones and adjacent spermatogenic cells. To understand this interaction more in detail, we have analyzed the effects of FSH, (Bu)2cAMP, testosterone, insulin, and retinoic acid (RA) on staged seminiferous tubule segments in vitro. FSH stimulated stages VIIcd to XI of the cycle; similar results were obtained with (BU)2cAMP. RA stimulated PA secretion in stages I-VIIab, but testosterone and insulin had no effect in any stage. The secreted PA was mainly of the urokinase type, although small amounts of the tissue-type PA were found after stimulation by FSH and cAMP. These results suggest that spermatogenic cells modify the responsiveness of Sertoli cells to hormonal stimulation. Stages I-VIIab are sensitive to stimulation by RA whereas stages VIIcd-XI are preferentially stimulated by FSH and (Bu)2cAMP.