What type of cell junction is between the Sertoli cells?
What type of cell junction is between the Sertoli cells?
desmosome-like junctions
In essence, both desmosome-like junctions and basal ESs are known to coexist between Sertoli cells at the level of the blood–testis barrier where they cofunction with the well-studied tight junction in maintaining the immunological barrier.
Do Sertoli cells have gap junctions?
Within the seminiferous tubules, gap junctions are located in the region of Sertoli cell occluding junctions at the level of the blood–testis barrier [22], [23] and between Sertoli and germ cells [24], [25].
Which barrier is located at the Sertoli Sertoli cell junction?
blood-testis barrier
The name “blood-testis barrier” is misleading in that it is not a blood-organ barrier in a strict sense, but is formed between Sertoli cells of the seminiferous tubule and as such isolates the further developed stages of germ cells from the blood.
Where can tight junctions be found in the testes?
In the testis, tight junctions (TJs) are found between adjacent Sertoli cells at the level of the blood–testis barrier (BTB) where they coexist with basal ectoplasmic specializations and desmosome-gap junctions.
What is the tight junction?
Tight junctions form the continuous intercellular barrier between epithelial cells, which is required to separate tissue spaces and regulate selective movement of solutes across the epithelium.
Where are gap junctions not found?
Gap junctions occur in virtually all tissues of the body, with the exception of adult fully developed skeletal muscle and mobile cell types such as sperm or erythrocytes. Gap junctions are not found in simpler organisms such as sponges and slime molds. A gap junction may also be called a nexus or macula communicans.
Why are tight junctions important for germ cells?
The elaborate fibrils formed by the tight junction components play a critical role in multi-cellular organisms by sealing off the space between neighboring epithelial cells, thereby partitioning compartments within an organism (3). Spermatogenesis takes place within seminiferous tubules of the testis.
Why do Sertoli cells form the blood-testis barrier?
The presence of the blood-testis barrier allows Sertoli cells to control the environment in which germ cells (i.e., spermatocytes, spermatids, and sperm) develop. It also prevents toxins from entering the seminiferous tubules, protecting the germ cells as they develop.
Which type of cell junctions are tight junctions?
Occluding junctions The borders of two cells are fused together, often around the whole perimeter of each cell, forming a continuous belt like junction known as a tight junction or zonula occludens (zonula = latin for belt).
