Protein synthesis by isolated pachytene spermatocytes in the absence of Sertoli cells

Isolated rat pachytene spermatocytes were incubated in chemically defined medium supplemented with pyruvate and lactate, which are known to be essential energy substrates for these germ cells. Protein synthesis by the isolated cells was investigated by means of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic patterns of (35S)-labeled proteins, synthesized by the pachytene spermatocytes during incubation in the presence of (35S)methionine either from 0-2 h or from 24-26 h after isolation, were almost completely identical. The patterns of newly synthesized proteins of freshly isolated spermatocytes and spermatids, however, showed several stage-specific proteins in addition to many proteins common to both spermatogenic cell types. Hence, it was concluded that a stage-specific pattern of protein synthesis can be maintained by pachytene spermatocytes during incubation for a period of 24 h in the absence of Sertoli cells but in the presence of a proper energy source.