title: Deep-etch visualization of the Sertoli cell (blood-testis) barrier in the boar.
abstract: The Sertoli cell (blood-testis) barrier in the boar was visualized by the freeze-fracture, deep-etch, rotary-replication technique. Three kinds of cross-bridging structures were clearly recognized in the following three ectoplasmic specialization (ES) regions; (1) cross-bridges in the intercellular space between adjacent Sertoli cell membranes; (2) cross-bridges in the space between the Sertoli cell membrane and microfilament bundles; and (3) cross-bridges in the space between microfilament bundles and subsurface cisternae. Results from immunolocalization, vinculin and alpha-actinin were recognized in the Sertoli cell barrier. Our findings show that these structural elements of the Sertoli cell barrier are held together by these cross-bridging structures, and provide important morphological evidence that implicates the ES in the dynamic function of the microfilament bundles of the Sertoli cell barrier.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Univ Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yazama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirosawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishida
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005613:Freeze Etching; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000199:Actins