Transition from preinvasive carcinoma in situ to seminoma is accompanied by a reduction of connexin 43 expression in Sertoli cells and germ cells.

ABSTRACT: Carcinoma in situ (CIS) represents the preinvasive stage of human germ cell tumors, but the mechanism leading to pubertal proliferation and invasive malignancy remains unknown. Among testicular gap junctional proteins, connexin 43 (Cx43) represents the predominant Cx, and, previously, an inverse correlation between synthesis of Cx43 protein and progression of tumor development was detected. In the present study, using cDNA microarray analysis, in situ hybridization, semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from tissue homogenates, RT-PCR from microdissected tubules with normal spermatogenesis and CIS, and seminoma cells from invasive seminoma, we asked whether reduction of Cx43 protein is accompanied by a change of Cx43 transcripts. We detected a significan

SUBMITTER: Brehm R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1601470 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature