Biomaterial Database

Germ cell-somatic cell relationships: a comparative study of intercellular junctions during spermatogenesis in selected non-mammalian vertebrates. 1987

R L Sprando, and L D Russell

Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901.

Specialized germ cell-somatic cell relationships were surveyed in the testis of species representative of four classes of non-mammalian vertebrates. Desmosome-like junctions were present in all classes studied. In the teleost fish studied (bluegill; Lepomis macrochirus), small, infrequent desmosomes, seen between the spherical cyst cells and spermatocytes, were characterized by poorly represented subsurface densities. In the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), similar desmosome-like junctions were found between cyst cell processes and spermatocytes. Reptilian (turtle; Pseudameys scripta) desmosome-like junctions between Sertoli cells and germ cells were heterogeneous and more numerous than those junctions found in fish and amphibians. In general, the reptilian desmosome-like junctions were extensive structures displaying 10 nm filaments associated with the Sertoli cell component of the junctions. Regions within the desmosome where the two plasma membranes converged suggested that gap junctions were a component of the desmosome-like junctions. "Desmosome-gap" junctions persisted in turtle spermatids for sometime after nuclear elongation had commenced. In birds (chicken; Gallus domesticus), "desmosome-gap" junctions, similar to those seen in turtles were described between both spermatocytes and Sertoli cells, and spermatids and Sertoli cells. These junctions were frequently lined by saccules of endoplasmic reticulum. The presence of gap junctions suggest the evolution of mechanisms for somatic cell-germ cell communication although more species should be examined to confirm this hypothesis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007365	Intercellular Junctions	Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792)	Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008297	Male		Males
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D010473	Perciformes	The most diversified of all fish orders and the largest vertebrate order. It includes many of the commonly known fish such as porgies, croakers, sunfishes, dolphin fish, mackerels, TUNA, etc.	Bluegill,Croakers,Dolphin Fish,Porgies,Sparid Fish,Sparus,Sunfishes,Centrarchidae,Mackerels,Mahi-Mahi,Bluegills,Croaker,Fish, Sparid,Mackerel
D011892	Rana catesbeiana	A species of the family Ranidae (true frogs). The only anuran properly referred to by the common name "bullfrog", it is the largest native anuran in North America.	Bullfrog,Bullfrogs,Rana catesbeianas,catesbeiana, Rana
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D003896	Desmosomes	A type of junction that attaches one cell to its neighbor. One of a number of differentiated regions which occur, for example, where the cytoplasmic membranes of adjacent epithelial cells are closely apposed. It consists of a circular region of each membrane together with associated intracellular microfilaments and an intercellular material which may include, for example, mucopolysaccharides. (From Glick, Glossary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 1990; Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Desmosome
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D013091	Spermatogenesis	The process of germ cell development in the male from the primordial germ cells, through SPERMATOGONIA; SPERMATOCYTES; SPERMATIDS; to the mature haploid SPERMATOZOA.	Spermatocytogenesis,Spermiogenesis