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Estrogenic regulation of bicarbonate transporters from SLC4 family in rat Sertoli cells

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Abstract

The formation of competent spermatozoa is a complex event that depends on the establishment of adequate environments throughout the male reproductive tract. Bicarbonate is essential not only to ionic homeostasis but also to pH maintenance along the male reproductive tract. Previous studies support an association of high 17β-estradiol (E2) levels with modulation of specific ion transporters expression. Herein we determined the effect of E2 on the expression/functionality of SLC4 family bicarbonate transporters in rat Sertoli cells (SCs). All studied transporters [anion exchanger 2 (AE2), Na+-driven Cl−/HCO3 − exchanger (NDCBE), electrogenic Na+/HCO3 − co-transporters (NBCe1), and electroneutral Na+/HCO3 − co-transporters (NBCn1)] were identified in SCs, being AE2 and NBCn1 the most abundant. In E2-treated cells (100 nM), increases in AE2 and NBCn1 protein levels were observed, as well as altered transcellular transport. E2-treated SCs presented a significant perturbation of ATP-induced short-circuit current. This alteration was concurrent with augmented AE2 and NBCn1 levels. Overall, we report a relation between increased E2 levels and the expression/function of AE2 and NBCn1 in rat SCs, providing new evidence on the mechanisms by which E2 can regulate SCs physiology and consequently spermatogenesis, with direct influence on male reproductive potential.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”—FCT (PTDC/QUIBIQ/121446/2010 and PEst-OE/SAU/UI0709/2014) co-funded by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional—FEDER via Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade—COMPETE/QREN. UMIB is funded by FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project Pest-OE/SAU/UI0215/2014. M.G. Alves (SFRH/BPD/80451/2011) was funded by FCT. P.F. Oliveira was funded by FCT through FSE and POPH funds (Programa Ciência 2008).

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Authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Raquel L. Bernardino, Ana D. Martins, Tito T. Jesus, Rosália Sá, Mário Sousa & Pedro F. Oliveira

  2. Unit for Multidisciplinary Investigation in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Raquel L. Bernardino, Ana D. Martins, Tito T. Jesus, Rosália Sá, Mário Sousa & Pedro F. Oliveira

  3. CICS – UBI – Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, Covilhã, Portugal

    Ana D. Martins, Marco G. Alves & Pedro F. Oliveira

  4. Centre for Reproductive Genetics Prof. Alberto Barros, Porto, Portugal

    Mário Sousa

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  1. Raquel L. Bernardino
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  2. Ana D. Martins
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  7. Pedro F. Oliveira
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Correspondence to Pedro F. Oliveira.

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Bernardino, R.L., Martins, A.D., Jesus, T.T. et al. Estrogenic regulation of bicarbonate transporters from SLC4 family in rat Sertoli cells. Mol Cell Biochem 408, 47–54 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-015-2481-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-015-2481-4

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