Ionic currents induced by ATP in Leydig cells

Abstract

Leydig cells are responsible for the production and secretion of testosterone. They are controlled by the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in a process modulated by several substances. Recently, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was found to be another modulator, acting through the activation of purinergic receptors. In this paper we used the patch clamp technique in order to detect and characterize the ionic currents induced by extracellular ATP in Leydig cells freshly isolated from mice testis. Addition of ATP to the bathing solution induces an inward current strongly rectifying at hyperpolarizing potentials. Such current is dependent on the doses of ATP and shows an apparent desensitization for ATP concentrations higher than 60 m M. The I-V plot reveals a reversal potential around zero mV, indicating a non-selective cation current. These results confirm, from an electrophysiological point of view, the presence of purinergic receptors in Leydig cells, probably of the P2X type.