title: Modified expression of testicular gap-junction connexin 43 during normal spermatogenic cycle and in altered spermatogenesis.
abstract: In order to better understand the implications of gap junction proteins in spermatogenesis, connexin 43 (Cx43), the most abundant connexin in the testis, was evaluated in testes of wild-type mice and of two mutants with impaired spermatogenesis (ebo/ebo, and jun-d-/-mice). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification revealed a constitutive expression of mRNA for Cx43 in both wild-type mice and infertile mutants. In the seminiferous tubules of wild-type mice, indirect immunofluorescence revealed that Cx43 expression was stage-dependent and that the signal was mainly located in the region of Sertoli cell occluding junctions. Colocalization of Cx43 and of the tight-junction-associated protein zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) was demonstrated in seminiferous tubules by using dual-label immunofluorescence in conjunction with confocal microscopy. The Cx43 staining analyzed by high-resolution confocal microscopy appeared as continuous, anastomozed ribbons and thin dots. The level of Cx43 immunoreactivity was reduced in seminiferous tubules of ebo/ebo and jun-d-/- mutants as compared to the respective wild-type mice. No staining for Cx43 was detected in Sertoli cell-only seminiferous tubules observed sometimes in jun-d-/- mice. The present study represents one of the first in vivo examples of alteration of seminiferous tubule Cx43 in testes with impaired spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: INSERM CJF 95/04, EA 1760, IFR 50, Faculté de Médecine, Nice, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Batias
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Defamie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lablack
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thepot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fenichel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Segretain
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pointis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger