Nitric oxide-cGMP signaling: Its role in cell junction dynamics during spermatogenesis

Document Type

Article (peer-reviewed)

Publication Date

2008

Abstract

During spermatogenesis, development of spermatogonia into elongated spermatids takes place in the seminiferous epithelium of the adult mammalian testis. Specifically, post-meiotic germ cell maturation occurs in a unique microenvironment sequestered from the systemic circulation by the blood-testis barrier (BTB), which is formed by adjacent Sertoli cells. Therefore, an intact BTB, as ell as stable Sertoli-germ cell adhesion, are important criteria for successful spermatogenesis. To date, numerous factors have been shown to influence spermatogenesis, and among them is the well-studied nitric oxide (.NO)/guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) signaling cascade. The enzymes of this pathway, namely nitric oxide synthase, soluble guanylate cyclase and cGMP-dependent protein kinase, have all been shown to regulate cell junctions in the testis. Likewise, recent findings have shown that this signaling cascade also plays a critical role in the regulation of Sertoli-germ cell adhesion. In this mini-review, we briefly discuss the regulatory role of each protein component of the NO/ cGMP pathway in the context of testicular junction dynamics, as well as their importance in fertility and male contraception.

DOI

10.2174/187152208783790741

Language

English

https://doi.org/10.2174/187152208783790741

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