Rho GTPases and spermatogenesis.
Rho GTPases, such as Rho, Rac and Cdc42, are known to regulate many cellular processes including cell movement and cell adhesion. While the cellular events of germ cell movement are crucial to spermatogenesis since developing germ cells must migrate progressively from the basal to the adluminal compartment but remain attached to the seminiferous epithelium, the physiological significance of Rho GTPases in spermatogenesis remains largely unexplored. This paper reviews some recent findings on Rho GTPases in the field with emphasis on the studies in the testis, upon which future studies can be designed to delineate the role of Rho GTPases in spermatogenesis.
Lui
Wing-Yee
WY
Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Lee
Will M
WM
Cheng
C Yan
CY
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D006153:Guanosine Diphosphate; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins