title: Novel clathrin/actin-based endocytic machinery associated with junction turnover in the seminiferous epithelium.
abstract: Tubulobulbar complexes are elaborate clathrin/actin related structures that form at sites of intercellular attachment in the seminiferous epithelium of the mammalian testis. Here we summarize what is currently known about the morphology and molecular composition of these structures and review evidence that the structures internalize intercellular junctions both at apical sites of Sertoli cell attachment to spermatids, and at basal sites where Sertoli cells form the blood-testis barrier. We present updated models of the sperm release and spermatocyte translocation mechanisms that incorporate tubulobulbar complexes into their designs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3. Electronic address: vogl@mail.ubc.ca.
authors.forename: A Wayne
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3. Electronic address: minducanada@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z3. Electronic address: elsiewang91@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Xue Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA. Electronic address: J'nelle.Young@hc.msu.edu.
authors.forename: J'Nelle S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier / Q000502:physiology; D002966:Clathrin / Q000502:physiology; D004705:Endocytosis; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012670:Seminiferous Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013083:Sperm Transport; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D002966:Clathrin
keywords: Junction endocytosis; Sperm release; Spermatocyte translocation; Tubulobulbar complex