Equine follicle-stimulating hormone action in cultured Sertoli cells from rat, sheep and pig.

This study investigates the effectiveness of equine Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in rats, pigs, and sheep. The research finds varying responses in each species, with the highest potency of the hormone identified in rats.

Experiment Methodology

• The researchers previously used a suspension of seminiferous tubule cells, a vital part of mammalian testes, and deduced the higher biological potency of Equine FSH in male rats.
• In this investigation, they examined its effect in rats, pigs, and sheep, comparing in each species the equine FSH against their indigenous Follicle-stimulating hormones.
• Two activities were determined: binding activity was calculated using a radioreceptor assay with a testicular membrane fraction; and the biological potency was measured using an enzyme called plasminogen activator in samples of Sertoli cells cultured on plastic.

Findings & Analysis

• In rats, it was discovered that the binding activity of Equine FSH was equivalent to Rat FSH. The biological effectiveness of Equine FSH was 47 times greater than Rat FSH, hence verifying its superactivity in rats.
• In pigs, Equine FSH was found not to be superactive, as it showed binding activities and biological potencies identical to Porcine FSH.
• In sheep, the binding activity of equine FSH was six times higher than that of sheep FSH. Its biological potency was also higher (14 times), however, equine FSH cannot be considered superactive with these results.

Conclusion

• The conclusion deduced from these findings is that equine FSH superactivity varies and is closely related to the species from which Sertoli cells are isolated.
• This suggests that the effectiveness of FSH (specifically equine FSH) can differ greatly depending on the species it is administered to, meaning that its use should be considered carefully in a veterinary or scientific context.