| First Author | Chihara M | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Biol Reprod | Volume | 89 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 3 |
| PubMed ID | 23677978 | Mgi Jnum | J:202057 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5516548 | Doi | 10.1095/biolreprod.113.107847 |
| Citation | Chihara M, et al. (2013) Mice stage-specific claudin 3 expression regulates progression of meiosis in early stage spermatocytes. Biol Reprod 89(1):3 |
| abstractText | Claudin 3 is a protein component of the tight junction strands. Tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells form the blood-testis barrier (BTB). During spermatogenesis, seminiferous stage-specific expression of claudin 3 is believed to regulate the migration of preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes across the BTB. Here, we determined the cell types expressing claudin 3 in adult mouse testis and investigated spermatogenesis after testis-specific in vivo knockdown of claudin 3. The results of in situ hybridization revealed that claudin 3 mRNA was predominantly expressed in germ cells near the basal lamina of seminiferous tubules at stages VI-IX. Furthermore, claudin 3 protein was localized not only to the BTB but also to the cell membrane of STRA8-expressing preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes in the testis of adult ICR.Cg-Tg(Stra8-EGFP)1Ysa/YsaRbrc mice. Although claudin 3 knockdown did not affect BTB integrity, it did cause a partial delay in spermatocyte migration across the BTB. Moreover, claudin 3 knockdown resulted in a prolonged preleptotene phase during spermatogenesis. These data indicate that the seminiferous stage-specific expression and localization of claudin 3 during spermatogenesis regulate the progression of meiosis by promoting germ cell migration across the BTB. |
