PMID- 11505367
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20011025
LR  - 20220330
IS  - 0003-276X (Print)
IS  - 0003-276X (Linking)
VI  - 264
IP  - 1
DP  - 2001 Sep 1
TI  - Expression of connexin43 in mouse Leydig, Sertoli, and germinal cells at 
      different stages of postnatal development.
PG  - 13-24
AB  - Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most abundant and ubiquitously distributed gap junction 
      protein in testicular cells. Lack of Cx43 expression results in male infertility. 
      We investigated whether Cx43 is expressed and regulated in Leydig, Sertoli and 
      germinal cells at different stages of postnatal development. Cx43 was detected 
      using three different antibodies shown by immunoblotting to be highly specific. 
      At different postnatal ages Cx43 localization was compared in serial or double 
      labeled testicular cryosections with immunocytochemical distribution of 
      steroidogenic enzyme, 3 betahydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase (3betaHSD), Mullerian 
      inhibitory hormone (MIH), and germinal nuclear cell antigen (GNCA1), which are 
      specific markers of interstitial Leydig, Sertoli and germinal cells, 
      respectively. In the interstitium, round cell clumps (RCC) with lipid droplets 
      positive for 3betaHSD and Cx43 were frequently found at intertubular areas at 
      birth and Cx43 was mainly localized at cell membrane appositions. From day 3, the 
      number and size of 3betaHSD-positive RCC started to decrease, and reached a 
      minimum at 7-14 dpp; Cx43 expressed by them is progressively downregulated. From 
      day 21 an increase in the size and number of RCC positive for Cx43 and 3betaHSD 
      was found that continued at 24, 26 and 28 days and reached a maximum at 35 and 60 
      dpp. Biphasic expression of interstitial Cx43 and 3betaHSD was also found to be 
      positively and temporally correlated with fluctuations in intratesticular 
      testosterone content at all ages studied. In the seminiferous cord (SC), Cx43 was 
      expressed at birth between adjacent Sertoli cells (MIH positive) localized at the 
      periphery, as well as in their cytoplasm projections that surround centrally 
      localized gonocytes. From days 3 to 7, Cx43 labeling increased in Sertoli cells 
      mainly at their apical border. At day 14, Cx43 distribution in Sertoli cells 
      changed from apical to basal in parallel to migration of germinal 
      (GNCA1-positive) cells from the periphery to the center of the SC. At all these 
      ages, Cx43 was also localized at cell borders between Sertoli and germinal cells. 
      In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Cx43 in Leydig cells is regulated 
      during postnatal development in an age and functional dependent manner. In the 
      tubule, it is demonstrated that Cx43 is modulated in Sertoli cells during the 
      neonatal and prepubertal period. We also provide evidence for the first time that 
      Cx43-gap junctions communicate between Sertoli and germinal cells before and 
      during the first wave of spermatogenesis.
CI  - Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
FAU - Bravo-Moreno, J F
AU  - Bravo-Moreno JF
AD  - Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, 
      Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico.
FAU - Diaz-Sanchez, V
AU  - Diaz-Sanchez V
FAU - Montoya-Flores, J G
AU  - Montoya-Flores JG
FAU - Lamoyi, E
AU  - Lamoyi E
FAU - Saez, J C
AU  - Saez JC
FAU - Perez-Armendariz, E M
AU  - Perez-Armendariz EM
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - United States
TA  - Anat Rec
JT  - The Anatomical record
JID - 0370540
RN  - 0 (3 beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase-delta(5) 3-ketosteroid isomerase)
RN  - 0 (Connexin 43)
RN  - 0 (Multienzyme Complexes)
RN  - 3XMK78S47O (Testosterone)
RN  - EC 1.1.- (3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases)
RN  - EC 1.1.1.- (delta(5)-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase)
RN  - EC 1.1.1.145 (Progesterone Reductase)
RN  - EC 5.3.3.- (Steroid Isomerases)
SB  - IM
MH  - 3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism
MH  - Aging/*metabolism
MH  - Animals
MH  - Animals, Newborn/growth & development/*metabolism
MH  - Connexin 43/*metabolism
MH  - Extracellular Space/metabolism
MH  - Germ Cells/*metabolism
MH  - Immunohistochemistry
MH  - Leydig Cells/*metabolism
MH  - Male
MH  - Mice/*metabolism
MH  - Mice, Inbred Strains
MH  - Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism
MH  - Osmolar Concentration
MH  - Progesterone Reductase/metabolism
MH  - Sertoli Cells/*metabolism
MH  - Steroid Isomerases/metabolism
MH  - Testis/growth & development/metabolism
MH  - Testosterone/metabolism
EDAT- 2001/08/16 10:00
MHDA- 2001/10/26 10:01
CRDT- 2001/08/16 10:00
PHST- 2001/08/16 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2001/10/26 10:01 [medline]
PHST- 2001/08/16 10:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1002/ar.1100 [pii]
AID - 10.1002/ar.1100 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Anat Rec. 2001 Sep 1;264(1):13-24. doi: 10.1002/ar.1100.