Restricted Arp3 expression in the testis prevents blood-testis barrier disruption during junction restructuring at spermatogenesis.

ABSTRACT: In epithelia, a primary damage of tight junctions (TJ) always leads to a secondary disruption of adherens junction (AJ), and vice versa. This response, if occurring in the testis, would disrupt spermatogenesis because the blood-testis barrier (BTB) must remain intact during the transit of spermatids in the seminiferous epithelium, which is associated with extensive apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES, a testis-specific AJ type) restructuring. As such, apical ES restructuring accompanied with the transit of developing spermatids during spermiogenesis must be segregated from the BTB to avoid an immunological barrier breakdown in all stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle, except at stage VIII when spermiation and BTB restructuring take place concurrently. We report herein a mec

SUBMITTER: Lie PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2895132 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature