title: Expression of claudin-1 and -11 in immature and mature pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) testes.
abstract: The expression of claudin-1 and -11, tight junctions (TJs) proteins was examined in immature and adult pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) testes. Claudin-1 and -11 cDNA were highly similar to those of human, mice, and chicken. Claudin-1 mRNA and protein (21 kDa) levels in immature testes were higher than those of adult testis. In immature testes until 6 weeks of age, Claudin-1 was found at contacts between adjacent Sertoli cells and between Sertoli cells and germ cells. In adult testis, Claudin-1 was found in early spermatocytes migrating the blood testis barrier (BTB). Blood vessels were positive for claudin-1. Claudin-11 mRNA and protein (21 kDa) increased during adulthood development of testis. In immature testis, Claudin-11 was found in apicolateral contacts between adjacent Sertoli cells, indicating its involvement in cell adhesion in immature testis. In adult testis, strong wavy Claudin-11 immunoreactivity was parallel to basal lamina at the basal part of seminiferous epithelium, indicating that Claudin-11 at the inter-Sertoli TJs may act as a structural element of the BTB. Weak Claudin-1 and -11 immunoreactivity at contacts between Sertoli cells to elongating/elongated spermatids, meiotic germ cells, and basal lamina suggests that they also participate in the cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion in pheasant testis. Testosterone increased claudin-11 mRNA in testis organ culture and Sertoli cell primary culture, suggesting positive regulation of claudin-11 gene by androgen in Sertoli cells of pheasant testis. This is the first report on the claudins expression at BTB in avian testis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gye
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D062445:Claudin-1; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000737:chemistry; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011200:Poultry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry; D019108:Tight Junctions
chemical_list: C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; D062445:Claudin-1; C568113:Cldn1 protein, mouse; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger