Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations of junctions proteins in mammalian testes - Implications on male contraceptive development

Abstract

In adult mammalian testes, cell junctions not only maintain the integrity of the testis, their dynamic turnover also plays different crucial roles in spermatogenesis during the seminiferous epithelial cycle, such as cell-cell communication to coordinate meiosis, spermatid orientation and germ cell movement. In the testis, disassembly and reassembly of cell junctions at the Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell interface allow the translocation of germ cells towards the adluminal compartment, but at the same time, germ cells remain attach to Sertoli cells for structural and nutritional supports. Temporal and spatial expressions of junction proteins in Sertoli cells and germ cells therefore become one of the major events to maintain such process. A precise control of such event could be in part achieved by transcriptional and post-transcriptional modifications of target genes pertinent to the components of the junction complexes. In this review, we aim to summarize the recent findings in the study of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations of junction proteins in epithelial cells and in the testis. It also highlights specific areas for future studies. A comprehensive study on this topic definitely leads to a thorough understanding of spermatogenesis and the development of new approaches for male contraception. © 2008 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.