title: Endothelial cell migration directs testis cord formation.
abstract: While the molecular cues initiating testis determination have been identified in mammals, the cellular interactions involved in generating a functional testis with cord and interstitial compartments remain poorly understood. Previous studies have shown that testis cord formation relies on cell migration from the adjacent mesonephros, and have implicated immigrant peritubular myoid cells in this process. Here, we used recombinant organ culture experiments to show that immigrant cells are endothelial, not peritubular myoid or other interstitial cells. Inhibition of endothelial cell migration and vascular organisation using a blocking antibody to VE-cadherin, also disrupted the development of testis cords. Our data reveal that migration of endothelial cells is required for testis cord formation, consistent with increasing evidence of a broader role for endothelial cells in establishing tissue architecture during organogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Combes
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dejana
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Harley
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koopman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013737:Testis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins; D000099152:Cadherin 5