Kanai Y, Hayashi Y, Kawakami H, Takata K, Kurohmaru M, Hirano H, Nishida T
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Anat Rec. 1991 Jun;230(2):199-208. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092300207.
The effect of tunicamycin (TM) on testicular cord organization in the fetal mouse was examined in vitro at light and electron microscopic levels, with special reference to the glycoprotein functions during Sertoli cell differentiation. In testicular explants treated with TM, testicular cord organization was inhibited. TM treatment affected basal lamina formation by Sertoli cells, resulting in a discontinuous basal lamina or none at all in certain areas. The disorganized Sertoli cells were amorphous in shape, exhibited poor epithelial polarity, and were irregularly arranged in the testicular parenchyma. Extracellular matrix and collagen fibers were often observed in the intercellular spaces between the disorganized Sertoli cells. Lectin histochemical observation revealed that the number of wheat germ agglutinin binding sites on the plasma membrane and basal lamina of disorganized Sertoli cells was significantly decreased by TM treatment. However, junctions were normally observed in the plasma membrane between disorganized Sertoli cells. Leydig cells showed a normal differentiation in the testicular parenchyma in the presence of TM. These observations suggest that basal lamina formation of Sertoli cells and/or the expression of their cell surface glycoconjugates may be crucial for the establishment of Sertoli cell polarity and/or the Sertoli-Sertoli cell interactions required for proper testicular cord formation. Sertoli cell organization into testicular cords and Leydig cell differentiation may be controlled by different regulatory mechanisms.
在体外，利用光镜和电镜研究了衣霉素（TM）对胎鼠睾丸索组织的影响，并特别关注支持细胞分化过程中的糖蛋白功能。在用TM处理的睾丸外植体中，睾丸索组织受到抑制。TM处理影响了支持细胞基底膜的形成，导致基底膜不连续，或在某些区域根本不存在。排列紊乱的支持细胞形状不规则，上皮极性差，在睾丸实质中排列不规则。在排列紊乱的支持细胞之间的细胞间隙中经常观察到细胞外基质和胶原纤维。凝集素组织化学观察显示，TM处理显著减少了排列紊乱的支持细胞的质膜和基底膜上麦胚凝集素结合位点的数量。然而，在排列紊乱的支持细胞之间的质膜中通常观察到连接结构。在有TM存在的情况下，睾丸实质中的间质细胞表现出正常的分化。这些观察结果表明，支持细胞基底膜的形成和/或其细胞表面糖缀合物的表达可能对支持细胞极性的建立和/或正常睾丸索形成所需的支持细胞-支持细胞相互作用至关重要。支持细胞组织成睾丸索和间质细胞分化可能受不同调节机制的控制。
