Transport of transferrin‐bound iron into rat Sertoli cells and spermatids

Abstract

Transferrin (Tf), a major secretory protein of Sertoli cells, may transport iron to spermatogenic cells. This was assessed by measuring the uptake of Fe from 59Fe-125I-labelled rat Tf by Sertoli cells and round spermatids in vitro. Uptake of Fe from labelled Tf by Sertoli cells after a 72-h pre-incubation period was linear for 20 h (approximately 18 pmol/10(6) cells/20 h), whereas the uptake of Fe from labelled Tf by round spermatids after a 16-h pre-incubation period reached a plateau by 2 h (approximately 5 pmol/10(6) cells/2 h). The corresponding net uptake of Tf by both cell types was less than 0.1 pmol. High speed supernatants prepared from Sertoli cells and spermatids labelled with 59Fe-125I-Tf were fractionated by gel permeation chromatography. Separate peaks of protein-bound 59Fe and 125I-Tf were observed. Protein bound 59Fe could be precipitated with an antiserum to rat ferritin. It is concluded that iron from exogenous Tf is transported into Sertoli cells and round spermatids in vitro, and is complexed to intracellular ferritin. However, the present results do not exclude the possibility that Sertoli cell Tf may serve purposes other than iron transport.

Nutrition, genetic variation and male fertility

“…In addition, Sertoli and Leydig cells are sources of ferritin, an iron transport protein, to developing sperm. Ferritin also protects testicular tissue (159,160). Furthermore, mitochondrial redox reactions create ATP, which support spermatogenesis and contribute to sperm motility, but require oxygen to occur (161,162).…”

Iron Deficiency Anemia as a Factor in Male Infertility: Awareness in Health College Students in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia

“…An adequate intake of iron by males is essential since iron is highly required to maintain ejaculate fluidity and sperm pH within a functional range [ 27 , 28 ]. In addition, Sertoli and Leydig cells are sources of ferritin for the developing sperm and protect testicular tissue [ 29 , 30 ]. IDA leads to reduced circulatory oxygen transport creating a hypoxic environment to the testes, which impairs spermatogenesis [ 31 ].…”

Quantitative evaluation of the maintenance and development of spermatocytes and round spermatids in cultured tubule fragments from immature rat testis

“…Flow cytometric analysis of tubule fragments and isolated germ cells was performed essentially as described by Vindel~v, Christensen & Nissen (1983), as outlined previously (Toebosch, Kroos & Grootegoed, 1987).…”

“…The amount of cellular protein was measured as described by Lowry et al (1951), using BSA (fraction V) as standard. The DNA content was measured using the fluorescent dye DAPI (Kapuscinski & Skoczylas, 1977;Brunk, Jones & James, 1979) as described previously (Toebosch et al, 1987).…”