• Development and Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

The Syrian (golden) hamsters are seasonal breeders whose reproductive functions are active in summer and inactive in winter. In experimental facility mimicking winter climate, short photoperiod (SP) induces gonadal regression. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) of the sexually involuted animals have been reported to be permeable, allowing developing germ cells to be engulfed or sloughed off the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. The expressions of genes related to the tight junction composing of BTB were investigated in the reproductive active and inactive testes. Claudin-11, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) were definitely expressed in the active testes but not discernably detected in the inactive testes. And spermatozoa (sperm) were observed in the whole lengths of epididymides in the active testes. They were witnessed in only cauda region of the epididymides but not in caput and corpus regions in animals with the inactive testes. The results imply that the disorganization of BTB is associated with the testicular regression. The developing germ cells are swallowed into the Sertoli cells or travel into the lumen, as supported by the presence of the sperm delayed in the last region of the epididymis. These outcomes suggest that both apoptosis and desquamation are the processes that eliminate the germ cells during the regressing stage in the Syrian hamsters.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.7-14
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• 2004

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.63-63
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• 2003

In an effort to uncover the spermatogenic impairment by the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the expression of tight junctions (TJs) genes important for the formation of the blood testis barrier (BTB) were examined following the 3,3',4,4',5-pentachloro biphenyl (PCB126) treatment in cultured neonatal testis in mice. At 4 days (D4) after 10 and 100 nM PCB126 treatment the expression of claudin-11 was significantly increased when compared with vehicle control. In contrast no difference in occludin and claudin-1 expression was found among the experimental group. On D8, 100 nM PCB126 significantly increased the expression of claudin-11 but not occludin and claudin-1. 1 uM PCB126 treatment significantly decreased expressions of occludin and ciaudin -1, suggesting the general toxic effect on the Sertoli cell. Because PCB126 does not alter the proliferative activity of spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells in neonatal testis, it is likely that increase in the expression of claudin-11 by low dose of PCB126 may attribute to the alteration of the Sertoli cells differentiation in testis. It also emphasized that PCB126 might have differentially affected the transcription of TJ genes in Sertoli cells. In conclusion, this result suggests that the structure of TJ may be targeted by PCB126 in neonatal testis in mice and that co-PCB is potentially harmful to spermatogenesis by alteration of the development of BTB.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 2003

Tight junctions (TJ) between adjacent Sertoli cells in testis are important for the formation of the blood testis barrier (BTB). In an effort to verify the reproductive health risk of endocrine-active chemicals (EACs), changes in the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and the expression of TJ genes were examined by co-planar polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) treatment in cultured mouse Sertoli cells. Although the increase in TER of Sertoli cells was accelerated by 10 nM co-planar PCB, it was downregulated by 100 nM co-planar PCB. The expression of claudin-1 was downregulated by co-planar PCB in a concentration-dependent manner. On the contrary, the expression of claudin-1 was increased in the Sertoli cells by 10 nM co-planar PCB treatment. These results suggest that the structure and function of TJ may be targeted by co-planar PCB in Sertoli cells. Assessment of the structure and function of TJ in Sertoli cells might be useful for screening the reproductive health risk of EACs.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2000

Spatiotemporal expression of two isoforms of zonular occludens-1 (ZO-1), tight junctional protein, was examined in mouse testis. By RT-PCR, transcripts encoding two isoforms of ZO-1; ZO-1$\alpha$+ and ZO-1$\alpha$- were detected in testis. Two different forms of ZO-1 antigens with Mr.225 and 2001 KDa were detected in western blot of extract of neonatal to adult testis, coinciding with the result of RT-PCR. The relative amount of ZO-1 $\alpha$- versus 20-1 $\alpha$＋ increased as the mice matured. In immunostaining using the pan antibody which detected both isoforms, ZO-1 was localized in the intercellular spaces in the Sertoli cell - Sertoli cell contacts in periphery of seminiferous tubule as well as Sertoli cell - germ cells contacts within the seminiferous tubule. The expression of ZO-1 was ubiquitous in both junctional area and cytoplasm of seminiferous tubule components. However, more intense signals were found in Sertoli cell junctional areas according to sexual maturation. The changes in the relative amount of both isoforms and spatial distribution of ZO-1 at the periphery of seminiferous tubule might be important for functional appearance of blood testis barrier and spermatogenesis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.293-303
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• 1996

This paper aims to probe that the effect of high dose of cyclophosphamide to the Sertoli cells of the mouse was examined by transmission electron microscope. In the normal group, Sertoli cells contact each other around the basal aspect of the seminiferous tubule, forming numerous row of tight junction, blood-testis barrier. Sertoli cells contain smooth endoplasmic reticulum, well developed Golgi comples, a number of round mitochondria and microfilament. The cytoplasmic necrosis are observed from the 1-time treated group. In the 2-times treated group, smooth endoplasmic reticulum are more developed than normal group, but cisternae are partially dilated. In the 3-times treated group, the smooth endoplasmic reticulum are not developed. In the 2-times treated group, the inner membrane of the mitochondria are partially disrupted, and cristae are all disrupted in the 3-times treated group. The microfilaments are not observed in the all treated groups. According to the results above, it seems that smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and microfilament are disrupted by toxic effects of the cyclosphamide to the Sertoli cells of the mouse.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.35-55
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• 1993

cis-Dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (cis-Platin), a metallic compound, has widely been used as an effective anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. The precise mechanism of action of this agent is still unknown, but it is postulated that cis-Platin may act on the cancer cell like bifunctional alkylating agents. Although this agent is very beneficial to the patients with cervical cancer, germinoma of testis, neuroblastoma and others, it may also damage to the normal cell so that many side effects; severe hemorrhagic enterocolitis, bone marrow depression, renal damage and liver damage will develope. This experiment has been undertaken to pursue the cytotoxic effects of the cis-Platin on the ultrastructures of the interalveolar septum in the mouse lung. A total of 55 healthy male mice of ICR strain were used as experimental animals and divided into 5 mice of normal control group and 50 mice of cis-Platin treated group. The mice of cis-Platin treated group were sacrificed by carotid exsanguination at 6, 12, 24 hours, 3 days and 7 days after intraperitoneal injection of 6.0 mg of cis-Platin ($Abiplatin^R$ Abic Co. Ltd.) per kg of mouse body weight. The specimen obtained from the lower lobe of left lung were sliced into $1mm^3$ and prefixed with 2% glutaraldehyde -2.5% paraformaldehyde solution prepared with Millonig's phosphatae buffer solution (pH 7.4) at $4^{\circ}C$ for 3-4 hours. After postfixation with 1% osmium tetroxide solution all specimens were embedded in Epon 812. Ultrathin sections about $600-800{\AA}$ in thickness were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and observed with Hitachi-600 electron microscope. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Local swellings with increase of electron density and number of pinocytic vesicles in the cytoplasms of the type I pneumocyte and endothelial cell of the blood air barrier in interalveolar septum of cis-platin treated mice were observed. 2. Cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum were dilated and sacculated in association with detachment of membrane bound ribosomes of the type II pneumocyte in interalveolar septum of cis-Platin treated mice. 3. Swollon mitochondria with uneven electron density of their matrix were observed in the type II pneumocyte of interalveolar septum in the cis-Platin treated mice. 4. The lamellae of lammelar bodies in type II pneumocyte of interalveolar septum in cis-Platin treated mice were devoided or transformed into homogeneous electron dense material. It is consequently suggested that cis-Platin would induce the cellular edema of type I pneumocyte and endothelial cell, and degenerative changes of cytoplasmic organelles of the type II pneumocyte in the interalveolar septum of the mouse lung.