Expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in human azoospermic testes.
- Author:
Bo YANG
1
;
Jian-Lin YUAN
;
Xiao-Kang GAO
;
He-Liang LIU
;
Wei-Jun QIN
;
Chen SHAO
;
Fei LIU
;
Fu-Xia KANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Azoospermia; metabolism; Cadherins; metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Male; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Sertoli Cells; metabolism; Testis; cytology; metabolism; Tight Junctions; Young Adult
- From: National Journal of Andrology 2009;15(12):1081-1084
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in normal and azoospermic human testes and their significance.
METHODSWe studied the routine pathological slices of normal and non-obstructive azoospermic human testis tissues for changes in the tight junction of Sertoli-germ cells, and identified the differential gene expression profiles of the normal and azoospermic testis tissues using cDNA microarrays containing multiple cadherin molecules. The results were confirmed by Western blot.
RESULTSAbnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells was observed in 37.5% of the azoospermic testis samples, and obvious changes were seen in the expressions of some cadherin molecules, with down-regulation of CDH18 and PCDH17.
CONCLUSIONCadherin molecules such as CDH18 and PCDH17 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia, which might be related with the abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells.
