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Evidence of autophagy activity in stage V seminiferous epithelium
Author(s) -
Young J'Nelle Ellie,
Saber Nelly,
Vogl A. Wayne
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.523.1
Subject(s) - sertoli cell , microbiology and biotechnology , autophagy , tight junction , endoplasmic reticulum , epithelium , biology , blood–testis barrier , spermatogenesis , chemistry , apoptosis , endocrinology , biochemistry , genetics
Autophagy involves the breakdown of cytosolic components in conjunction with lysosomes. In this study, we test the prediction that tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs) formed by Sertoli cells in rat testes are associated with autophagy. TBCs are cytoskeleton‐related structures that are formed in association with intercellular junctions in the seminiferous epithelium (SE). TBCs are most defined at apical junctions between Sertoli cells and spermatids, although they also are found at basal junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells. TBCs contain a tubular region surrounded by a cuff of actin and a distal region that is associated with cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum. Mounting evidence suggests that Sertoli cells internalize junction proteins via the budding off of double‐membrane vesicles from TBCs followed by fusion with lysosomes resulting in degradation or recycling of junction proteins to newly forming junctions. We used immunological probes to explore the potential of autophagy activity in the SE. Immunostaining of the epithelium suggests that autophagy marker LC3A is not present at apical TBCs in rat testes as predicted but rather, is present elsewhere in the cells, particularly during Stage V of spermatogenesis. Our results indicate that autophagy is not associated apical junction disassembly in Sertoli cells. Grant Funding Source : NSERC