Insulin binding to Leydig cells and insulin levels in testicular interstitial fluid at different stages of development in the rat

ABSTRACT Binding of insulin to purified intact Leydig cells (LC) and LC membranes, and levels of insulin in plasma and testicular interstitial fluid (IF) were quantitatively evaluated in rats at three stages of development. Specific insulin binding to intact LC increased significantly with age. Scat...

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Published inJournal of endocrinology Vol. 128; no. 3; pp. 375 - 381
Main Authors GRIZARD, G, FOURNET, M, RIGAUDIERE, N, LOMBARD-VIGNON, N, GRIZARD, J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Colchester BioScientifica 01.03.1991
Portland Press
Subjects
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Membrane - metabolism
Cell Separation
Endocrinology and metabolism
Extracellular Space - metabolism
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormone metabolism and regulation
Human health and pathology
Insulin - metabolism
Leydig Cells - metabolism
Life Sciences
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Receptor, Insulin - metabolism
Sexual Maturation - physiology
Vertebrates: reproduction
Pancreatic hormone
Rat
Rodentia
Binding site
Testicle
Male genital system
Insulin
Leydig cell
Vertebrata
Mammalia
Interstitial fluid
Development
Developmental stage
RAT
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Summary:ABSTRACT Binding of insulin to purified intact Leydig cells (LC) and LC membranes, and levels of insulin in plasma and testicular interstitial fluid (IF) were quantitatively evaluated in rats at three stages of development. Specific insulin binding to intact LC increased significantly with age. Scatchard analysis of the binding data always gave curvilinear plots; the number of high affinity binding sites/LC were 2590±514, 3977±701 and 8342±2039 at 21, 40 and 70 days respectively. When the results were expressed per μg membrane protein, the maximal specific insulin binding also increased between 21 and 40 days but did not significantly change thereafter. With ageing, insulin levels in testicular IF decreased (3·05±0·30, 2·48±0·22 and 1·66±0·13 μg/l in 21-, 40- and 70-day-old rats) whereas plasma insulin increased. Taken together, these results suggest (1) that the intratesticular environment in this hormone cannot be evaluated by plasma insulin levels—testicular IF insulin concentration is probably a better index and (2) that insulin may play a role in the development of LC function during sexual maturation. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 375–381
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ISSN:0022-0795
1479-6805
DOI:10.1677/joe.0.1280375