Formation of the blood-testis barrier in the rabbit

Sun, Eric L.; Gondos, Bernard

doi:10.1007/bf00218064

Cited by 22 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…One of the first conclusions as to vimentin's regulatory meaning was that it might tip the balance in the dispute over the still elusive origin of Sertoli cells towards a likely mesenchymal origin. Consequently, the recent finding of keratin expression in immature Sertoli cells Sun and Gondos (1986) able candidates at least for "long range" cell lineage markers (discussed by Viebahn et al, 1987). Transient keratin expression in Sertoli cells might be correlated with the transient appearance of desmosome-like junctions between immature Sertoli cells such as the ones described in the dog (Connell, 1980).…”

Section: Species Differencesmentioning

confidence: 92%

Intermediate filaments in sertoli cells

Aumüller

Schulze

Viebahn

1992

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Using immunohistochemical techniques both at light and electron microscopic levels, the arrangement and distribution of intermediate filaments in Sertoli cells of normal testis (in rat and human), during pre- and postnatal development (in rabbit, rat, and mouse) and under experimental and pathological conditions (human, rat), have been studied and related to the pertinent literature. Intermediate filaments are centered around the nucleus, where they apparently terminate in the nuclear envelope providing a perinuclear stable core area. From this area they radiate to the plasma membranes; apically often a close association with microtubules is seen. Basally, direct contacts of the filaments with focal adhesions occur, while the relationship to the different junctions of Sertoli cells is only incompletely elucidated. In the rat (not in human) a group of filaments is closely associated with the ectoplasmic specializations surrounding the head of elongating spermatids. Both in rat and human, changes in cell shape during the spermatogenic cycle are associated with a redistribution of intermediate filaments. As inferred from in vitro studies reported in the literature, these changes are at least partly hormone-dependent (vimentin phosphorylation subsequent to FSH stimulation) and influenced by local factors (basal lamina, germ cells). Intermediate filaments, therefore, are suggested to be involved in the hormone-dependent mechanical integration of exogenous and endogenous cell shaping forces. They permit a cycle-dependent compartmentation of the Sertoli cell into a perinuclear stable zone and a peripheral trafficking zone with fluctuating shape. The latter is important with respect to the germ cell-supporting surface of the cell which seems to limit the spermatogenetic potential of the male gonad.

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Section: Species Differencesmentioning

confidence: 92%

Intermediate filaments in sertoli cells

Aumüller

Schulze

Viebahn

1992

Microscopy Res & Technique

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“…Interestingly, XY germ cells at preleptoten stages have been detected around birth and for two weeks thereafter in the testis, at the same time as meiosis occurs in the ovary, but without any further signs of more advanced meiotic stages [5], [7]. At 10 weeks of age (70 d pp ), the blood-testis barrier is definitively complete [10]. Puberty is achieved at 5–6 months.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gonad Differentiation in the Rabbit: Evidence of Species-Specific Features

Daniel-Carlier¹,

Harscoët²,

Thépot³

et al. 2013

PLoS ONE

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The rabbit is an attractive species for the study of gonad differentiation because of its 31-day long gestation, the timing of female meiosis around birth and the 15-day delay between gonadal switch and the onset of meiosis in the female. The expression of a series of genes was thus determined by qPCR during foetal life until adulthood, completed by a histological analysis and whenever possible by an immunohistological one. Interesting gene expression profiles were recorded. Firstly, the peak of SRY gene expression that is observed in early differentiated XY gonads in numerous mammals was also seen in the rabbit, but this expression was maintained at a high level until the end of puberty. Secondly, a peak of aromatase gene expression was observed at two-thirds of the gestation in XX gonads as in many other species except in the mouse. Thirdly, the expression of STRA8 and DMC1 genes (which are known to be specifically expressed in germ cells during meiosis) was enhanced in XX gonads around birth but also slightly and significantly in XY gonads at the same time, even though no meiosis occurs in XY gonad at this stage. This was probably a consequence of the synchronous strong NANOS2 gene expression in XY gonad. In conclusion, our data highlighted some rabbit-specific findings with respect to the gonad differentiation process.

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“…In adult animals, the BTB divides the seminiferous epithelium into adluminal and basal compartments, thereby establishing a suitable milieu for germ cell development. In several species, the BTB is initially established during the prepubertal period when the majority of germ cells derived from the first spermatogenic wave reach the early-pachytene stage [5,6,7]. In rats, BTB assembly does not occur synchronously along the length of the seminiferous tubules, despite the emergence of pachytene spermatocytes [6].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vitamin A Deprivation Affects the Progression of the Spermatogenic Wave and Initial Formation of the Blood-testis Barrier, Resulting in Irreversible Testicular Degeneration in Mice

Chihara

Otsuka

Ichii

et al. 2013

Journal of Reproduction and Development

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The blood testis-barrier (BTB) is essential for maintaining homeostasis in the seminiferous epithelium. Although many studies have reported that vitamin A (VA) is required for the maintenance of spermatogenesis, the relationships between the BTB, spermatogenesis and VA have not been elucidated. In this study, we analyzed BTB assembly and spermatogenesis in the testes of mice fed the VA-deficient (VAD) diet from the prepubertal period to adulthood. During the prepubertal period, no changes were observed in the initiation and progression of the first spermatogenic wave in mice fed the VAD diet. However, the numbers of preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes derived from the second spermatogenic wave onwards were decreased, and initial BTB formation was also delayed, as evidenced by the decreased expression of mRNAs encoding BTB components and VA signaling molecules. From 60 days postpartum, mice fed the VAD diet exhibited apoptosis of germ cells, arrest of meiosis, disruption of the BTB, and dramatically decreased testis size. Furthermore, vacuolization and calcification were observed in the seminiferous epithelium of adult mice fed the VAD diet. Re-initiation of spermatogenesis by VA replenishment in adult mice fed the VAD diet rescued BTB assembly after when the second spermatogenic wave initiated from the arrested spermatogonia reached the preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes. These results suggested that BTB integrity was regulated by VA metabolism with meiotic progression and that the impermeable BTB was required for persistent spermatogenesis rather than meiotic initiation. In conclusion, consumption of the VAD diet led to critical defects in spermatogenesis progression and altered the dynamics of BTB assembly.

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Formation of the blood-testis barrier in the rabbit

Cited by 22 publications

References 15 publications

Intermediate filaments in sertoli cells

Intermediate filaments in sertoli cells

Gonad Differentiation in the Rabbit: Evidence of Species-Specific Features

Vitamin A Deprivation Affects the Progression of the Spermatogenic Wave and Initial Formation of the Blood-testis Barrier, Resulting in Irreversible Testicular Degeneration in Mice

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