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Regulation of blood‐testis barrier assembly in vivo by germ cells
Author(s) -
Li XiaoYu,
Zhang Yan,
Wang XiuXia,
Jin Cheng,
Wang YuQian,
Sun TieCheng,
Li Jian,
Tang JiXin,
Batool Alia,
Deng ShouLong,
Chen SuRen,
Yan Cheng C.,
Liu YiXun
Publication year - 2018
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/fj.201700681r
Subject(s) - somatic cell , sertoli cell , germ cell , microbiology and biotechnology , meiosis , biology , blood–testis barrier , spermatogenesis , in vivo , genetics , endocrinology , gene
The assembly of the blood‐testis barrier (BTB) during postnatal development is crucial to support meiosis. However, the role of germ cells in BTB assembly remains unclear. Herein, Kit W /Kit Wv mice were used as a study model. These mice were infertile, failing to establish a functional BTB to support meiosis due to c‐Kit mutation. Transplantation of undifferentiated spermatogonia derived from normal mice into the testis of Kit W / Kit WV mice triggered functional BTB assembly, displaying cyclic remodeling during the epithelial cycle. Also, transplanted germ cells were capable of inducing Leydig cell testosterone production, which could enhance the expression of integral membrane protein claudin 3 in Sertoli cells. Early spermatocytes were shown to play a vital role in directing BTB assembly by expressing claudin 3, which likely created a transient adhesion structure to mediate BTB and cytoskeleton assembly in adjacent Sertoli cells. In summary, the positive modulation of germ cells on somatic cell function provides useful information regarding somatic‐germ cell interactions.—Li, X.‐Y., Zhang Y., Wang, X.‐X., Jin, C., Wang Y.‐Q., Sun, T.‐C., Li, J., Tang J.‐X., Batool, A., Deng, S.‐L., Chen S.‐R., Cheng, C. Y., Liu, Y.‐X. Regulation of blood‐testis barrier assembly in vivo by germ cells. FASEB J. 32, 1653‐1664 (2018). www.fasebj.org