Intercellular junctions within the mammalian testes play an important role during spermatogenesis. The cadherins are a superfamily of integral membrane proteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell adhesion and are involved in the formation of intercellular junctions. The cadherin subtype, known as N-cadherin, mediates the interaction between the germ cells and Sertoli cells of the testis. Previous studies have shown that estrogens are able to modulate N-cadherin mRNA levels in the 7-day-old mouse testis. / I have examined the estrogen effects on N-cadherin protein levels in the testes of 21-day-old rats. The rats were injected with either 17$ beta$-estradiol, the anti-estrogens Tamoxifen and ICI 182,780, or estradiol in combination with ICI 182,780. Immunoblotting analysis of testicular proteins shows that N-cadherin levels in the 21-day-old rat are stimulated by estrogen. Treatment with anti-estrogens decrease N-cadherin levels. Administration of estrogen was able to overcome the inhibitory effects of anti-estrogen treatment. The results obtained from these studies indicate that the effect of estrogen on testicular N-cadherin levels is mediated through the estrogen receptor. Estrogen receptor levels within the testis are not altered by exogenous estrogen, but can be affected by treatment with anti-estrogen. / These experiments support the hypothesis that estrogens play an important role in spermatogenesis. In addition, the results provide insight into how disruption of testicular estrogen responsiveness can reduce fertility and why chronic anti-estrogen treatment results in disorganization of the seminiferous epithelium.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.27349 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Jackson, Andrew R., 1972- |
| Contributors | Blaschuk, O. W. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (Division of Surgical Research.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001549285, proquestno: MQ29724, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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