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Journal of Andrology, Vol. 26, No. 3, May/June 2005
Copyright © American Society of Andrology
DOI: 10.2164/jandrol.04142

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Strength Measurement of the Sertoli-Spermatid Junctional Complex

KATJA M. WOLSKI*, CECILE PERRAULT{dagger}, ROGER TRAN-SON-TAY{dagger} AND DON F. CAMERON*

From the * Department of Anatomy, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida; and {dagger} Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Correspondence to: Dr Katja M. Wolski, Department of Anatomy, University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC6, Tampa, FL 33612-4799 (e-mail: kwolski{at}hsc.usf.edu).


The Sertoli cell ectoplasmic specialization (ES) is a specialized domain of the calcium-dependent Sertoli cell-spermatid junctional complex. Not only is it associated with the mechanical adhesion of the cells, but it also plays a role in the morphogenesis and differentiation of the developing germ cells. Abnormal or absent Sertoli ESs have been associated with step-8 spermatid sloughing and subsequent oligospermia. With a micropipette pressure transducing system (MPTS) to measure the force needed to detach germ cells from Sertoli cells, this study examined, for the first time, the strength of the junction between Sertoli cells and spermatids and between Sertoli cells and spermatocytes. The mean force needed to detach spermatocytes from Sertoli cells was 5.25 x 10-7 pN, prestep-8 spermatids from Sertoli cells was 4.73 x 10-7 pN, step-8 spermatids from Sertoli cells was 8.82 x 10-7 pN, and spermatids plus EDTA was 2.16 x 10-7 pN. These data confirm the hypothesis that step-8 spermatids are more firmly attached to Sertoli cells than are spermatocytes and pre-step-8 spermatids and that calcium chelation reduces binding strength between Sertoli cells and spermatids. The MPTS is a useful tool in studying the various molecular models of the Sertoli-germ cell junctional strength and the role of reproductive hormones and enzymes in coupling and uncoupling of germ cells from Sertoli cells.

     Key words: Ectoplasmic specialization, testis, micropipette, adherens junction




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Copyright © 2005 by The American Society of Andrology.