The murine seminiferous epithelial cycle is pre-figured in the Sertoli cells of the embryonic testis

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 635-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula M. Timmons ◽  
Peter W. J. Rigby ◽  
Françoise Poirier
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
Developmental Origins ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Functional Heterogeneity ◽  
Adult Testis ◽  
Germ Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Cell Lineages

The seminiferous epithelial cycle and spermatogenic wave are conserved features of vertebrate spermatogenic organisation that reflect the need for the rigorous maintenance of sperm production. Although the cycle and the wave of the adult seminiferous epithelium have been well characterised, particularly in rodent species, their developmental origins are unknown. We show that the Sertoli cells of the pre-pubertal mouse, including those of the germ cell-deficient XXSxra mutant, exhibit coordinated, cyclical patterns of gene expression, presaging the situation in the adult testis, where Sertoli cell function is coupled to the spermatogenic cycle. In the case of the galectin 1 gene (Lgals1), localised differential expression in the Sertoli cells can be traced back to neonatal and embryonic stages, making this the earliest known molecular marker of functional heterogeneity in mammalian testis cords. In addition, the timing of germ cell apoptosis in normal pre-pubertal testes is linked to the temporal cycle of the Sertoli cells. These data show that the cycle and wave of the murine seminiferous epithelium originate at a much earlier stage in development than was previously known, and that their maintenance in the early postnatal cords depends exclusively on the somatic cell lineages.

scholarly journals Dynein 1 supports spermatid transport and spermiation during spermatogenesis in the rat testis

2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (5) ◽  
pp. E924-E948 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Wen ◽  
Elizabeth I. Tang ◽  
Wing-yee Lui ◽  
Will M. Lee ◽  
Chris K. C. Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Cytoplasmic Dynein ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
Organelle Transport ◽  
Cellular Events

In the mammalian testis, spermatogenesis is dependent on the microtubule (MT)-specific motor proteins, such as dynein 1, that serve as the engine to support germ cell and organelle transport across the seminiferous epithelium at different stages of the epithelial cycle. Yet the underlying molecular mechanism(s) that support this series of cellular events remain unknown. Herein, we used RNAi to knockdown cytoplasmic dynein 1 heavy chain (Dync1h1) and an inhibitor ciliobrevin D to inactivate dynein in Sertoli cells in vitro and the testis in vivo, thereby probing the role of dynein 1 in spermatogenesis. Both treatments were shown to extensively induce disruption of MT organization across Sertoli cells in vitro and the testis in vivo. These changes also perturbed the transport of spermatids and other organelles (such as phagosomes) across the epithelium. These changes thus led to disruption of spermatogenesis. Interestingly, the knockdown of dynein 1 or its inactivation by ciliobrevin D also perturbed gross disruption of F-actin across the Sertoli cells in vitro and the seminiferous epithelium in vivo, illustrating there are cross talks between the two cytoskeletons in the testis. In summary, these findings confirm the role of cytoplasmic dynein 1 to support the transport of spermatids and organelles across the seminiferous epithelium during the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis.

Role of Sertoli Cells in Injury-Associated Testicular Germ Cell Apoptosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 225 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Boekelheide ◽  
Shawna L. Fleming ◽  
Kamin J. Johnson ◽  
Sutchin R. Patel ◽  
Heidi A. Schoenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Testicular Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cell Apoptosis

scholarly journals Sertoli–germ cell junctions in the testis: a review of recent data

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1546) ◽  
pp. 1593-1605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona A. Kopera ◽  
Barbara Bilinska ◽  
C. Yan Cheng ◽  
Dolores D. Mruk
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Junction Type ◽  
Stage Viii ◽  
Immunological Barrier

Spermatogenesis is a process that involves an array of cellular and biochemical events, collectively culminating in the formation of haploid spermatids from diploid precursor cells known as spermatogonia. As germ cells differentiate from spermatogonia into elongated spermatids, they also progressively migrate across the entire length of the seminiferous epithelium until they reach the luminal edge in anticipation of spermiation at late stage VIII of spermatogenesis. At the same time, these germ cells must maintain stable attachment with Sertoli cells via testis-unique intermediate filament- (i.e. desmosome-like junctions) and actin- (i.e. ectoplasmic specializations, ESs) based cell junctions to prevent sloughing of immature germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium, which may result in infertility. In essence, both desmosome-like junctions and basal ESs are known to coexist between Sertoli cells at the level of the blood–testis barrier where they cofunction with the well-studied tight junction in maintaining the immunological barrier. However, the type of anchoring device that is present between Sertoli and germ cells depends on the developmental stage of the germ cell, i.e. desmosome-like junctions are present between Sertoli and germ cells up to, but not including, step 8 spermatids after which this junction type is replaced by the apical ES. While little is known about the biology of the desmosome-like junction in the testis, we have a relatively good understanding of the molecular architecture and the regulation of the ES. Here, we discuss recent findings relating to these two junction types in the testis, highlighting prospective areas that should be investigated in future studies.

scholarly journals Two distinct Sertoli cell states are regulated via germ cell crosstalk†

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L Gewiss ◽  
Nathan C Law ◽  
Aileen R Helsel ◽  
Eric A Shelden ◽  
Michael D Griswold
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Sertoli Cell ◽  
Germ Cells ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Seminiferous Tubule ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
Critical Component ◽  
Cell Transcriptome ◽  
Cell Crosstalk ◽  
Blood Testis Barrier

Abstract Sertoli cells are a critical component of the testis environment for their role in maintaining seminiferous tubule structure, establishing the blood-testis barrier, and nourishing maturing germ cells in a specialized niche. This study sought to uncover how Sertoli cells are regulated in the testis environment via germ cell crosstalk in the mouse. We found two major clusters of Sertoli cells as defined by their transcriptomes in Stages VII–VIII of the seminiferous epithelium and a cluster for all other stages. Additionally, we examined transcriptomes of germ cell-deficient testes and found that these existed in a state independent of either of the germ cell-sufficient clusters. Altogether, we highlight two main transcriptional states of Sertoli cells in an unperturbed testis environment, and a germ cell-deficient environment does not allow normal Sertoli cell transcriptome cycling and results in a state unique from either of those seen in Sertoli cells from a germ cell-sufficient environment.

Correlation between blood-testis barrier development and onset of the first spermatogenic wave in normal and busulfan-treated rats

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 78-79
Author(s):  
Juan C. Cavicchia ◽  
Fabio L. Sacerdote
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Tight Junctions ◽  
Basal Lamina ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Seminiferous Epithelium ◽  
Seminiferous Tubules ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Synaptonemal Complexes ◽  
New Born

Pregnant rats (day 13) received 10mg/kg of Busulfan i.p. in order to deplete of germ cell the testes of the new born rats. The seminiferous tubules of their off spring from postnatal age 1 day up to day 35 were examined with TEM after fixation plus intercellular tracers, and with freeze-fracture techniques. During this period, the inter-Sertoli tight junctions of controls increase both in numbers and in length. Between days 10 and 13 the seminiferous cords have numerous preleptotene and leptotene spermatocytes (Fig.1) surrounded by tracer. The inter-Sertoli junctions are tortuous and predominantly perpendicular to the basal lamina. Between ages 13 and 20 days the seminiferous epithelium reaches zygotene-pachytene stages (fig.2) identified by the presence of synaptonemal complexes. The tracer is stopped at the inter-Sertoli junctions at this stage, whereas it still permeates tubules displaying preleptotene and leptotene spermatocytes.Freeze-fracture shows that the orientation of inter-Sertoli junctions has changed to parallel, both to each other and to the basal lamina (fig.3). In the Busulfan treated rats, the tubules continue having, up to postnatal day 30, only Sertoli cells and scanty spermatogonia.

Role of Sertoli Cells in Injury-Associated Testicular Germ Cell Apoptosis

2000 ◽  
Vol 225 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Boekelheide ◽  
Shawna L. Fleming ◽  
Kamin J. Johnson ◽  
Sutchin R. Patel ◽  
Heidi A. Schoenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Testicular Germ Cell ◽  
Germ Cell Apoptosis
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