Summary
During the reproductive period of the male stickleback, structural and functional changes of the kidney take place, both in the glomeruli and in the renal tubule cells. The structural changes in the glomeruli involve almost all glomerular components and point to a reduction of the glomerular filtration rate. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these changes are controlled by testosterone, indirectly or directly. In vivo experiments demonstrated that exposure of immature castrates for 8 days to methyltestosterone leads to activation of mesangial cells and podocytes, to slight expansion of mesangial matrix and slight thickening of basal lamina. Observations on cultured renal tissue showed that two androgens, 11-ketotestosterone and methyl testosterone, are also able to stimulate the secretory activity of podocytes and mesangial cells in vitro. The results therefore indicate, that most glomerular changes in male sticklebacks during the reproductive season are directly effected by testosterone.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews PM, Stauver M (1979) In vitro incubation and study of kidney glomerular epithelial cells. Kidney Int 15:80–87
Arai R (1967) Androgenic effects of 11-ketotestosterone on some sexual characteristics in the teleost, Oryzias latipes. Annot Zool Jap 40:1–5
Baggerman B (1968) Hormonal control of reproductive and parental behaviour in fish. In: Barrington EJW, Barker Jørgensen C (eds) Perspectives in Endocrinology. Academic Press, New York London, pp 351–404
Baggerman B (1972) Photoperiodic responses in the stickleback and their control by a daily rhythm of photosensitivity. Gen Comp Endocrinol 3:466–475
Campbell CM, Walsh JM, Idler DR (1976) Steroids in the plasma of the winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus Walbaum). A seasonal study and investigation of steroid involvement in oocyte maturation. Gen Comp Endocrinol 29:14–20
De Martino C, Natali PG, Zamboni L, Accinni L (1976) Ultrastructural study of mesangial cells and their relationship to smooth muscle cells of glomerular arterioles. In: Sterzel RB (ed) Glomerulonephritis; Symp. on Nephrology, Hannover, June 1975. Contrib Nephrol 2:17–24 Karger, Basel
De Ruiter AJH (1978) A combined structural and physiological analysis of the effect of testosterone on renal and extrarenal osmoregulation in Gasterosteus aculeatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 34:91
De Ruiter AJH (1980) Changes in glomerular structure after sexual maturation and seawater adaptation in males of the euryhaline teleost Gasterosteus aculeatus L. Cell Tissue Res 206:1–20
De Ruiter AJH (In preparation) Testosterone-dependent transformation of nephronic tubule cells into serous and mucous cells in the kidney of the teleost Gasterosteus aculeatus L.
Duncan DB (1955) Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11:1–42
Geuze JJ, Kramer MF (1974) Function of coated membranes and multivesicular bodies during membrane regulation in stimulated exocrine pancreas cells. Cell Tissue Res 156:1–20
Hickman CP, Trump BF (1969) The kidney. In: Hoar WS, Randall JD (eds) Fish physiology, Vol 1. Academic Press, New York London, pp 91–239
Hoar WS (1962a) Hormones and the reproductive behaviour of the male three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Anim Behav 10:247–266
Hoar WS (1962b) Reproductive behaviour of fish. Gen Comp Endocrinol Suppl. I:206–216
Idler DR (1971) Identification and quantification of the major androgens in testicular and peripheral plasma of Atlantic Salmon (Salar salar) during sexual maturation. Gen Comp Endocrinol 16:257–267
Maetz J (1974) Aspects of adaptation to hypo-osmotic and hyper-osmotic environments. In: Malins DC, Sargent JR (eds) Biochemical and biophysical perspectives in marine biology. Academic Press, New York London, pp 1–167
Mourier J-P (1970) Structure fine du rein de l'épinoche (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) au cours de sa transformation muqueuse. Z Zellforsch 106:232–250
Mourier J-P (1972) Étude de la cytodifférenciation du rein de l'épinoche femelle après traitement par la méthyltestostérone. Z Zellforsch 123:96–111
Paul J (ed.) (1959) Cell and Tissue Culture. Livingstone, Edinburgh, p 185
Romen W, Schultze B, Hempel K (1976) Synthesis of the glomerular basement membrane in the rat kidney. Autoradiographic studies with the light and electron microscope. Virchows Arch B 20:125–137
Simon GT, Chatelanat F (1969) Ultrastructure of the normal and pathological glomerulus. In: Rouiller C, Muller AF (eds) The Kidney. Morphology, biochemistry, physiology, Vol I. Academic Press, New York London, pp 262–349
Wai EH, Hoar WS (1963) The secondary sex characters and reproductive behaviour of gonadectomized sticklebacks treated with methyltestosterone. Can J Zool 41:611–628
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Ruiter, A.J.H. Testosterone-dependent changes in vivo and in vitro in the structure of the renal glomeruli of the teleost Gasterosteus aculeatus L.. Cell Tissue Res. 219, 253–266 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210146
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210146