By using, as a model, cultured testicular immature Sertoli cells, the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and the site of action of the cytokine on lactate production were studied. TNF alpha stimulated in a time- and dose-dependent manner (with an ED50 of 0.1 nM) Sertoli cell lactate production. Two major sites involved in TNF alpha action were identified. Firstly, TNF alpha was shown to increase the uptake of glucose substrate in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The maximal effect was observed after 24 h of treatment, with an ED50 of 0.1 nM. Secondly, TNF alpha increased the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) A isoform, which is involved in the conversion of pyruvate into lactate. This increase in LDH-A activity was detected at 12 h and was maximal after 24 h of treatment with TNF alpha. The stimulatory effect of the cytokine on the LDH-A isoform was observed with an ED50 of 0.05 nM. Such an increase in LDH-A activity was related to an increase in LDH-A expression, because TNF alpha stimulated LDH-A messenger RNA (size, 1.5 kilobases, determined by Northern blotting analysis). Together, assuming that in the seminiferous tubules, TNF alpha is produced by spermatids that use lactate for their energetic metabolism, we suggest that the cytokine may potentially represent a signal used by germ cells to enhance lactate production in Sertoli cells through, at least, a redistribution of LDH isoforms in favor of LDH-A.