Immunodetection of cell adhesion molecules in Sertoli cell cultures

LUSTIG, L.; MERONI, S.; CIGORRAGA, S.; CASANOVA, M.; VIANELLO, S.; DENDUCHIS, B.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 1998 vol. 39 p. 399 - 405

1046-7408

PROBLEM: The presence of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in Sertoli cells has not been explored extensively. The expression of CAMs involved in cell-matrix and cell-to-cell interactions in Sertoli cell cultures was examined. METHOD OF STUDY: Immunohistochemical and Western blot techniques were applied to rat Sertoli cell cultures using specific antibodies to alpha 3, alpha 5, and alpha 6 integrin subunits; NCAM; and cadherins. RESULTS: Expression of alpha 3 and alpha 6 integrin subunits (mainly laminin receptors) and lack of expression of alpha 5 integrin subunit (fibronectin receptor) was observed in Sertoli cells by immunohistochemistry. These cells also expressed neural CAM (NCAM) and N-cadherin. By Western blot analysis, Sertoli cell extracts reacted with antibodies to alpha 3 integrin subunit revealed a band approximately 130 kDa, whereas no expression of alpha 5 integrin subunit was detected. Cell extracts incubated with antibodies to pan cadherin exhibited a band approximately 120 kDa, whereas bands of 180, 140, and 120 kDa were observed with antibodies to NCAM. CONCLUSION: New data about the expression of receptors for extracellular matrix proteins (alpha 3 and alpha 6 integrin subunits) as well as cell-to-cell adhesion molecules (NCAM and cadherins) are reported in rat Sertoli cell cultures.