title: Actin binding proteins, spermatid transport and spermiation.
abstract: The transport of germ cells across the seminiferous epithelium is composed of a series of cellular events during the epithelial cycle essential to the completion of spermatogenesis. Without the timely transport of spermatids during spermiogenesis, spermatozoa that are transformed from step 19 spermatids in the rat testis fail to reach the luminal edge of the apical compartment and enter the tubule lumen at spermiation, thereby arriving the epididymis for further maturation. Step 19 spermatids and/or sperms that remain in the epithelium beyond stage VIII of the epithelial cycle will be removed by the Sertoli cell via phagocytosis to form phagosomes and be degraded by lysosomes, leading to subfertility and/or infertility. However, the biology of spermatid transport, in particular the final events that lead to spermiation remain elusive. Based on recent data in the field, we critically evaluate the biology of spermiation herein by focusing on the actin binding proteins (ABPs) that regulate the organization of actin microfilaments at the Sertoli-spermatid interface, which is crucial for spermatid transport during this event. The hypothesis we put forth herein also highlights some specific areas of research that can be pursued by investigators in the years to come.
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
authors.forename: Dolores D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mruk
authors.affiliation: Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, NY 10301, United States.
authors.forename: Yan-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
authors.forename: Elizabeth I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China.
authors.forename: Daishu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Will M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
authors.forename: Elissa W P
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States. Electronic address: Y-Cheng@popcbr.rockefeller.edu.
authors.forename: C Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013083:Sperm Transport; D013087:Spermatids / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins
keywords: Actin binding proteins; Actin bundling proteins; Branched actin polymerization inducing proteins; Ectoplasmic specialization; Spermatogenesis; Spermiation; Spermiogenesis; Testis
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