Stimulation of protein synthesis in round spermatids from rat testes by lactate

Lactate markedly increased the rate of [3H]leucine incorporation into the protein of isolated round spermatids (steps 1-8) from rat testes. Four kinds of hexoses, glucose, fructose, galactose, and monnose, also stimulated [3H]leucine incorporation, but to much lesser extents than lactate. Ribose had no effect. The glucose-induced stimulation of protein synthesis was entirely suppressed by iodoacetate and NaF, whereas iodoacetate and NaF were without effect on the lactate-induced increase in protein synthesis. Lactate stimulated both protein synthesis and ATP production in the spermatids. However, both of these stimulatory effects of lactate were completely blocked by DNP and rotenone. Rotenone entirely blocked oxygen consumption, as expected, whilst DNP enhanced it additively with lactate. Moreover, lactate was without influence on either transport of alpha-[3H]AIB into spermatids or incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein of a cell-free system of spermatids. These findings suggest that lactate may increase the protein synthesis of spermatids in the same fashion as glucose, and that the effect of lactate in increasing the level of ATP during incubation in vitro may be a major factor in the mechanism of stimulation of protein synthesis in the spermatids.