Expression of E-cadherin in immature rat and mouse testis and in rat Sertoli cell cultures.
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.
Wu
J C
JC
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Gregory
C W
CW
DePhilip
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015342:DNA Probes; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000737:chemistry; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; D015342:DNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger