Multiple cadherin superfamily members with unique expression profiles are produced in rat testis
- Endocrinology. 2000 Feb;141(2):675-83. doi: 10.1210/endo.141.2.7334.
- 1. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA. [email protected]
Adhesion between germ and Sertoli cells is thought to be crucial for spermatogenesis. Cadherin superfamily proteins, including classic Cadherins and protocadherins, are important mediators of cell-cell adhesion. Using a degenerate PCR cloning strategy, we surveyed the expression of Cadherin superfamily members in rat testis. Similar to brain, testis expressed a large number of Cadherin superfamily members: 7 classic Cadherins of both types I and II, 14 protocadherins, 2 protocadherin-related Cadherins, and 1 cadherin-related receptorlike protein. All three protocadherin families (Alpha, beta, and gamma) were found in testis. Using a semiquantitative RT-PCR assay, messenger RNA expression was determined for each Cadherin superfamily member during a postnatal developmental time-course and following ablation of specific testis cell types by ethanedimethanesulfonate, methoxyacetic acid, and 2,5-hexanedione. Diverse expression patterns were observed among the Cadherins, suggesting that Cadherin expression is cell type-specific in testis. The large number and variety of Cadherin superfamily members found in testis supports a critical function for cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion in spermatogenesis.