Vol 118, No 1 (Supplement) 2013
Original Article

Relaxin and Sertoli cell proliferation

Published 2014-01-11

Keywords

  • relaxin,
  • FSH,
  • Sertoli cells

How to Cite

Nascimento, A. R., Pimenta, M. T., Lucas, T. F., Porto, C. S., & Lazari, M. F. (2014). Relaxin and Sertoli cell proliferation. Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, 118(1), 26–28. Retrieved from https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/ijae/article/view/3220

Abstract

Immature Sertoli cells proliferate and several factors affect their number, including the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, estradiol and several paracrine growth factors. Using a primary culture of Sertoli cells isolated from 15-day old Wistar rats we have shown that relaxin stimulates Sertoli cell proliferation through the activation of MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT pathways. In contrast, FSH inhibited both ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. Furthermore, FSH strongly increased cAMP production, whereas relaxin inhibited basal cAMP production. Our results indicate that in rat Sertoli cells from 15-day old rats relaxin and FSH affect the same signaling pathways in opposite directions. Interplay between both hormones may be important to control the proliferation and differentiation of Sertoli cells.