Influence of thyroid hormone on Sertoli cell protein metabolism in the prepubertal pig

In order to better understand the role of thyroid hormones in testis development, the influence of tri-iodothyronine on protein metabolism of immature pig Sertoli cells has been investigated. Sertoli cells were isolated enzymatically from 2- to 3-week-old piglet testes and cultured in the presence or absence of tri-iodothyronine. Protein labelling was evaluated in Sertoli cell monolayers incubated in medium containing a tracer dose of [3H]leucine. The results demonstrate that thyroid hormone can directly stimulate the process of protein synthesis in immature porcine Sertoli cells, without significantly affecting the protein degradation rate; moreover thyroid hormone exposure results in a significant decrease of intracellular ATP level. The evidence that tri-iodothyronine can increase Sertoli cell protein synthesis, supplies additional evidence about the fundamental role of thyroid hormone in the regulation of growth and differentiation of the mammalian testis through a direct action on the Sertoli cells.