Expression of E-cadherin in immature rat and mouse testis and in rat Sertoli cell cultures

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 49; no. 6; pp. 1353 - 1361
• Main Authors: Wu, J C, Gregory, C W, DePhilip, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction 01-12-1993
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Cadherins - analysis; Cadherins - genetics; Cells, Cultured; DNA Probes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Mice; Molecular Weight; Morphology. Physiology; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Seminiferous Tubules - chemistry; Sertoli Cells - chemistry; Sertoli Cells - metabolism; Testis - chemistry; Testis - growth & development; Testis - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction; Sertoli cell; Rat; Cell adhesion molecule; Rodentia; Testicle; Cadherin; Gene expression; Male genital system; In vitro; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Cell line; Mouse; Tight junction; Immaturity
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod49.6.1353

Cadherins are Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules that play essential roles in organogenesis. Northern blot analysis
was used to determine the levels of epithelial (E)-, neural (N)-, and placental (P)-cadherin expression in developing rat
testes from 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-wk-old rats. Highest expression of all three cadherins occurred during the first two postnatal
weeks, prior to the establishment of the blood-testis barrier. Transcripts of all three cadherins were also detected in RNA
isolated from Sertoli cells cultured from 3-wk-old rat testes. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated levels of E- and P-cadherin
protein in the testis and Sertoli cells that corresponded to the levels of their respective RNA transcripts. Immunohistochemical
reactivity of E-cadherin in 8-day-old mouse testis was associated with germ cells situated basally in the seminiferous tubules.
This report establishes the expression of E-cadherin in the testis and the simultaneous expression of E-, N-, and P-cadherin
in both testis and Sertoli cell cultures.