Connexin43 represents an important regulator for Sertoli cell morphology, Sertoli cell nuclear ultrastructure, and Sertoli cell maturation.

ABSTRACT: The Sertoli cell (SC)-specific knockout (KO) of connexin43 (Cx43) was shown to be an effector of multiple histological changes in tubular morphology, resulting in germ cell loss through to a Sertoli-cell-only (SCO) phenotype and vacuolated seminiferous tubules containing SC-clusters. Our present study focused on the effects of Cx43 loss on SC ultrastructure. Using serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM), we could confirm previous results. Ultrastructural analysis of Sertoli cell nuclei (SCN) revealed that these appear in clusters with a phenotype resembling immature/proliferating SCs in KO mice. Surprisingly, SCs of fertile wild type (WT) mice contained SCN with a predominantly smooth surface instead of deep indentations of the nuclear envelope, suggesting that these inden

SUBMITTER: Staggenborg S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9334284 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature