Abstract: 325

EVIDENCE FOR CELL-CELL INTERACTIONS IN THE TESTIS OF ADJUVANT-INDUCED ARTHRITIC RATS.

Angela Asirvatham^{1 *}, Brent Bruot^{1 *}
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH ¹

Adjuvant-induced arthritic (AA) rats provide a good model to study the role of macrophage on testicular function. Testicular macrophage from AA rats has been reported to secrete a factor capable of inhibiting testosterone production by non-arthritic cultured testicular interstitial cells. This study was designed to investigate the effect of adjuvant-induced arthritic macrophage conditioned medium (AAMCM) on a reconstituted preparation of testicular interstitial cells from non-arthritic rats. Testicular macrophages from AA and non-arthritic (NA) rats were cultured for 24 hours and the conditioned medium was collected. AAMCM, NAMCM (non-arthritic macrophage conditioned medium) and CM (medium incubated for 24 hours without macrophages) were added to testicular interstitial cells, Percoll purified Leydig cells, non-Leydig cell fractions from the Percoll gradient and reconstituted interstitial cells (Leydig cell + non-Leydig cell fractions) and cultured for 24 hours. As expected, the addition of AAMCM to interstitial cells resulted in a significant decrease in testosterone production (67+13%) compared to interstitial cells incubated with NAMCM (102+7%). Surprisingly, the inhibitory effect was lost when AAMCM was added to cultured Percoll purified Leydig cells. Testosterone production by Leydig cells cultured with AAMCM and NAMCM was 104+8% and 106+7%, respectively. Similarly, incubation of AAMCM and NAMCM with non-Leydig cell fractions had no effect on testosterone production (120+17% and 126+12%, respectively). The inhibitory effect was restored when AAMCM was added to reconstituted cells (85+5%) compared to the addition of NAMCM (123+13%). These results suggest that a factor produced by macrophages from AA rats may act in conjunction with the non-Leydig cell fraction to inhibit testosterone production.

    This abstract is being presented on Monday, August 2 at 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM at CUB 2nd Floor Ballroom.