Gap junctions between sertoli and germ cells of rat seminiferous tubules

McGinley, Dennis; Posalaky, Zoltan; Porvaznik, Martin; Russell, Lonnie D.

doi:10.1016/0040-8166(79)90028-4

Cited by 86 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Cx43-mediated heterocellular contacts between Sertoli and germinal cells is consistent with recent findings of Cx43 gene transcript in germinal and Sertoli cells by in situ hybridization (Batias et al, 2000). It is also consistent with the description of dye transfer (Batias et al, 2000;Orth and Boehm, 1990) and gap junctions (Byers and Pelletier, 1991;McGinley et al, 1979) between Sertoli and germinal cells, and between adjacent germinal cells (Pelletier and Byers, 1992). Further studies using electron microscopic techniques will confirm whether Cx43-mediated heterocellular contacts exist between SC cells.…”

Section: Bsupporting

confidence: 88%

Expression of Connexin43 in mouse Leydig, Sertoli, and germinal cells at different stages of postnatal development

et al. 2001

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Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant and ubiquitously distributed gap junction protein in testicular cells. Lack of Cx43 expression results in male infertility. We investigated whether Cx43 is expressed and regulated in Leydig, Sertoli and germinal cells at different stages of postnatal development. Cx43 was detected using three different antibodies shown by immunoblotting to be highly specific. At different postnatal ages Cx43 localization was compared in serial or double labeled testicular cryosections with immunocytochemical distribution of steroidogenic enzyme, 3 ␤hidroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (3␤HSD), Mullerian inhibitory hormone (MIH), and germinal nuclear cell antigen (GNCA1), which are specific markers of interstitial Leydig, Sertoli and germinal cells, respectively. In the interstitium, round cell clumps (RCC) with lipid droplets positive for 3␤HSD and Cx43 were frequently found at intertubular areas at birth and Cx43 was mainly localized at cell membrane appositions. From day 3, the number and size of 3␤HSD-positive RCC started to decrease, and reached a minimum at 7-14 dpp; Cx43 expressed by them is progressively downregulated. From day 21 an increase in the size and number of RCC positive for Cx43 and 3␤HSD was found that continued at 24, 26 and 28 days and reached a maximum at 35 and 60 dpp. Biphasic expression of interstitial Cx43 and 3␤HSD was also found to be positively and temporally correlated with fluctuations in intratesticular testosterone content at all ages studied. In the seminiferous cord (SC), Cx43 was expressed at birth between adjacent Sertoli cells (MIH positive) localized at the periphery, as well as in their cytoplasm projections that surround centrally localized gonocytes. From days 3 to 7, Cx43 labeling increased in Sertoli cells mainly at their apical border. At day 14, Cx43 distribution in Sertoli cells changed from apical to basal in parallel to migration of germinal (GNCA1-positive) cells from the periphery to the center of the SC. At all these ages, Cx43 was also localized at cell borders between Sertoli and germinal cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Cx43 in Leydig cells is regulated during postnatal development in an age and functional dependent manner. In the tubule, it is demonstrated that Cx43 is modulated in Sertoli cells during the neonatal and prepubertal period. We also provide evidence for the first time that Cx43-gap junctions communicate between Sertoli and germinal cells before and during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Anat Rec 264: [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] 2001.

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Section: Bsupporting

confidence: 88%

Expression of Connexin43 in mouse Leydig, Sertoli, and germinal cells at different stages of postnatal development

et al. 2001

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“…These are tubulobulbar complexes, ectoplasmic specializations, gap junctions, desmosome-like junctions, spermatogonial and spermatid processes, and Sertoli cell-invading processes. As gap junctions represent one route of cell-to-cell communication or signaling, these surface structural specializations play an important role in the integrity and functioning of spermatogenesis [16]. In the present study, the clear evidence of maturation depletion of the spermatids points to the possibility that certain toxic agents in smoke may affect mature spermatozoa or their precursors by breaking the intercellular communications between the Sertoli cells and germ cells.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Ultrastructural Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Rat Testis

Güven¹,

Can²,

Eyibilen³

et al. 1999

European Urology

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“…This type of communication, which allows exchange of molecules smaller than 1000 Daltons, is an important mechanism for regulating physiological events during the normal function of organs (Loewenstein 1981;Loewenstein and Rose 1992). In the testis, early morphological studies revealed the presence of gap junction particles and/or gap junction-like structures in the seminiferous epithelium and in the interstitial compartment (Dym and Fawcett 1970;Gilula et al 1976;Nagano and Suzuki 1976;McGinley et al 1977McGinley et al ,1979Russell 1977;Pelletier and Friend 1983). Recent reports have identified mRNAs in the testis coding for at least 12 connexins (Cx): Cx26 and Cx32 (Zhang and Nicholson 1989), Cx43 (Kadle et al 1991), Cx33 and Cx37 (Haefliger et al 1992), Cx30 (Dahl et al 1996), Cx31, Cx31.1, Cx45, Cx46, and Cx50 (Hennemann et al 1992;Ramzi and Risley 1997;Mok et al 1999), and Cx57 (Manthey et al 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Connexin43 Gene Expression and Regulation in the Rodent Seminiferous Epithelium

Batias

Siffroi²,

Fénichel

et al. 2000

J Histochem Cytochem.

105

110

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S U M M A R Y Connexin43 (Cx43) is one of the most predominant gap junction proteins found in the testis. We used in situ hybridization and indirect immunofluorescence to study the distribution of Cx43 mRNA and protein in the rodent seminiferous epithelium. During mouse testis maturation, Cx43 mRNA and its corresponding protein were first detected in the adluminal compartment of the growing seminiferous tubules (early postnatal age: Day 12) to become progressively located in the basal compartment at later ages (Days 16, 19, 27). In seminiferous tubules of sexually mature animals, the intensity of the hybridization signal was stage-dependent, with a maximum at Stage VII compared with Stages V and IX of the spermatogenic cycle ( p Ͻ 0.05). The highest expression of Cx43 mRNA was observed in the supporting Sertoli cells and, to a lesser extent, in the most basally located and less mature germ cells (spermatogonia and spermatocytes). Consistent with these observations, in situ dye coupling was observed between Sertoli cells and basal germ cells. In a mutant mouse deficient for the retinoid X receptor ␤ , which exhibited abnormal spermatogenesis due to altered Sertoli cell function, Cx43 transcripts were markedly decreased in the seminiferous epithelium ( p Ͻ 0.01). The immunoreactive signal for Cx43 was significantly reduced in seminiferous tubules of the 3-month-old mutant mice ( p Ͻ 0.05) and undetectable in older animals. These data provide new information about the precise localization of Cx43 mRNA and protein in seminiferous tubules of immature and mature rodent testes. Moreover, they suggest that retinoids, through the RXR ␤ receptors, could be involved in the control of Cx43 gene expression in Sertoli cells.

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Gap junctions between sertoli and germ cells of rat seminiferous tubules

Cited by 86 publications

References 24 publications

Expression of Connexin43 in mouse Leydig, Sertoli, and germinal cells at different stages of postnatal development

Expression of Connexin43 in mouse Leydig, Sertoli, and germinal cells at different stages of postnatal development

Ultrastructural Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Rat Testis

Connexin43 Gene Expression and Regulation in the Rodent Seminiferous Epithelium

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