Expression of connexine 43 in the seminiferous epithelium of white mice during testicular ontogenesis : immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization

Abstract EN

Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to elucidate the distribution of connexine43 (Cx43) protein and its mRNA in mice seminiferous epithelium during testicular ontogenesis.

Cx43 protein expresses itself in mice male gonads as early as the premordia germ cells reach the gonadal blastema at 12 days postcoitum (dpc) indicating its importance in testicular development.

It was expressed mainly in the basal portions of testicular cords throughout pre- and postnatal periods of gonadal development.

Cx43 mRNA was expressed more strongly in germ cells than in supporting cells.

Cx43 protein expression was found to be stage dependant being expressed strongly in stage VII (which is characterized by retraction of the main bulk of Sertoli cells to basal locations allowing better visualization of the inter Sertoli cell junction complexes which represent the main site of Cx43 expression).