SECRETION OF LATENT TYPE-IV PROCOLLAGENASE AND ACTIVE TYPE-IV COLLAGENASE BY TESTICULAR CELLS IN CULTURE

Testicular peritubular myoid cells, which have properties similar to those of vascular smooth-muscle cells, secrete a variety of metalloproteinases when maintained in culture in a chemically defined medium. The predominant metalloproteinases secreted were identified as latent type IV procollagenases having molecular masses of 72 kDa and 75 kDa, as detected in Western immunoblots with specific antibodies against type IV procollagenase. When peritubular cells were stimulated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, forskolin or cholera toxin, they secreted increased amounts of type IV procollagenase. However, little if any of the active type IV collagenase, having a lower molecular mass of 66 kDa, could be detected under these conditions. Addition of low concentrations of cytochalasin D to peritubular cells in monoculture resulted in conversion of the latent type IV collagenase into its active form, assessed with antibody-specificity studies and by the appearance of the 66 kDa protein. In contrast, Sertoli cells in culture did not manifest an increased conversion of type IV procollagenase into type IV collagenase in the presence of cytochalasin D, even though cytochalasin D addition invariably resulted in a disruption of the microfilament assembly in each of these gonadal somatic cell populations. When peritubular cells were co-cultured with Sertoli cells, addition of cytochalasin D no longer resulted in formation of increased amounts of the active form of type IV collagenase. Sertoli cells and peritubular cells each secreted a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase type 2, detected with a specific antibody in a Western immunoblot to have a molecular mass of 21 kDa. We conclude that cytochalasin D acts on mesenchymal-type peritubular cells, but not on epithelial-type Sertoli cells, to enhance the conversion of latent type IV procollagenase into active type IV collagenase. This conversion of type IV procollagenase into type IV collagenase by peritubular cells was inhibited by factor(s) secreted by Sertoli cells. Interactions between Sertoli cells and peritubular cells are postulated to modulate net proteinase activities in discrete regions of the testis.