| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Population Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health Baltimore, Maryland 21205
Address requests for reprints to: Dr. William W. Wright, Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Population Dynamics, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that secretion of Cyclic Protein-2 (CP-2) by mature rat Sertoli cells increased 30-fold from stage II to stages VI-VII of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and suggested that this protein was concentrated around compacted spermatids. Analysis of other organs revealed that CP-2 was also detectable in the epithelium of the proximal kidney tubule and in neurons originating from the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. We now have isolated a partial 1.8-kilobase (kb) cDNA for CP-2 mRNA, and sequence analysis revealed that CP-2 was the proenzyme form of the cysteine protease cathepsin L; this was corroborated by immunoprecipitation of CP-2 by anticathepsin L immunoglobulin G and by enzymatic analysis of purified CP-2. Northern analysis of testis mRNA revealed major (1.7 kb) and minor (2.2 kb) transcripts which differed in the length of their 3'-untranslated sequences. Low levels of CP-2/cathepsin L transcripts were detected in many organs, while high levels were only detected in testis, kidney, and liver. In seminiferous tubules, CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA was undetectable at stage II, increased to maximal levels at stages VI and VIIa, b, and was again undetectable at stage XII. At stages VI-VII, CP-2/cathepsin L mRNA was present in Sertoli but not germ cells. Taken together, these data suggest that CP-2/cathepsin L gene expression is regulated in a cell-specific manner and that in Sertoli cells this expression is influenced by germ cells at specific steps of development. We propose that at stages V-VII, secreted CP-2/cathepsin L degrades adhesion molecules which bind compacted spermatids to Sertoli cells, thereby facilitating movement of these spermatids toward the lumen of the tubule.
Received for publication August 7, 1991. Revision received September 19, 1991. Accepted for publication September 19, 1991.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  T. Visone, M. Charron, and W. W. Wright Activation and Repression Domains Within the Promoter of the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Orchestrate Sertoli Cell-Specific and Stage-Specific Gene Transcription in Transgenic Mice Biol Reprod, September 1, 2009; 81(3): 571 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q. Zhou, R. Nie, Y. Li, P. Friel, D. Mitchell, R. A Hess, C. Small, and M. D Griswold Expression of Stimulated by Retinoic Acid Gene 8 (Stra8) in Spermatogenic Cells Induced by Retinoic Acid: An In Vivo Study in Vitamin A-Sufficient Postnatal Murine Testes Biol Reprod, July 1, 2008; 79(1): 35 - 42. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Charron, J.-Y. Chern, and W. W. Wright The Cathepsin L First Intron Stimulates Gene Expression in Rat Sertoli Cells Biol Reprod, May 1, 2007; 76(5): 813 - 824. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. Xia, D. D Mruk, W. M Lee, and C Y. Cheng Unraveling the molecular targets pertinent to junction restructuring events during spermatogenesis using the Adjudin-induced germ cell depletion model J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2007; 192(3): 563 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. D. Mruk and C. Y. Cheng Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-Germ Cell Interactions and Their Significance in Germ Cell Movement in the Seminiferous Epithelium during Spermatogenesis Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2004; 25(5): 747 - 806. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. M. Hill, M. D. Anway, B. R. Zirkin, and T. R. Brown Intratesticular Androgen Levels, Androgen Receptor Localization, and Androgen Receptor Expression in Adult Rat Sertoli Cells Biol Reprod, October 1, 2004; 71(4): 1348 - 1358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E. Shima, D. J. McLean, J. R. McCarrey, and M. D. Griswold The Murine Testicular Transcriptome: Characterizing Gene Expression in the Testis During the Progression of Spermatogenesis Biol Reprod, July 1, 2004; 71(1): 319 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. D. Anway, W. W. Wright, B. R. Zirkin, N. Korah, J. S. Mort, and L. Hermo Expression and Localization of Cathepsin K In Adult Rat Sertoli Cells Biol Reprod, March 1, 2004; 70(3): 562 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C.-h. Wong, D. D. Mruk, W.-y. Lui, and C. Y. Cheng Regulation of blood-testis barrier dynamics: an in vivo study J. Cell Sci., February 15, 2004; 117(5): 783 - 798. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Charron, J. N. DeCerbo, and W. W. Wright A GC-Box Within the Proximal Promoter Region of the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Activates Transcription in Sertoli Cells of Sexually Mature Rats Biol Reprod, May 1, 2003; 68(5): 1649 - 1656. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Charron, J. S. Folmer, and W. W. Wright A 3-Kilobase Region Derived from the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Directs In Vivo Expression of a Reporter Gene in Sertoli Cells in a Manner Comparable to That of the Endogenous Gene Biol Reprod, May 1, 2003; 68(5): 1641 - 1648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. D. Anway, J. Folmer, W. W. Wright, and B. R. Zirkin Isolation of Sertoli Cells from Adult Rat Testes: An Approach to Ex Vivo Studies of Sertoli Cell Function Biol Reprod, March 1, 2003; 68(3): 996 - 1002. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. W. Wright, L. Smith, C. Kerr, and M. Charron Mice That Express Enzymatically Inactive Cathepsin L Exhibit Abnormal Spermatogenesis Biol Reprod, February 1, 2003; 68(2): 680 - 687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Sluka, L. O'Donnell, and P. G. Stanton Stage-Specific Expression of Genes Associated with Rat Spermatogenesis: Characterization by Laser-Capture Microdissection and Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Biol Reprod, September 1, 2002; 67(3): 820 - 828. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. G. Hamil, Q. Liu, P. Sivashanmugam, S. Yenugu, R. Soundararajan, G. Grossman, R. T. Richardson, Y.-L. Zhang, M. G. O'Rand, P. Petrusz, et al. Cystatin 11: A New Member of the Cystatin Type 2 Family Endocrinology, July 1, 2002; 143(7): 2787 - 2796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D.P. Dickinson CYSTEINE PEPTIDASES OF MAMMALS: THEIR BIOLOGICAL ROLES AND POTENTIAL EFFECTS IN THE ORAL CAVITY AND OTHER TISSUES IN HEALTH AND DISEASE Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, May 1, 2002; 13(3): 238 - 275. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Metayer, F. Dacheux, J.-L. Dacheux, and J.-L. Gatti Comparison, Characterization, and Identification of Proteases and Protease Inhibitors in Epididymal Fluids of Domestic Mammals. Matrix Metalloproteinases Are Major Fluid Gelatinases Biol Reprod, May 1, 2002; 66(5): 1219 - 1229. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. M. Timmons, P. W. J. Rigby, and F. Poirier The murine seminiferous epithelial cycle is pre-figured in the Sertoli cells of the embryonic testis Development, January 2, 2002; 129(3): 635 - 647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. D. Zabludoff, M. Charron, J. N. DeCerbo, N. Simukova, and W. W. Wright Male Germ Cells Regulate Transcription of the Cathepsin L Gene by Rat Sertoli Cells Endocrinology, June 1, 2001; 142(6): 2318 - 2327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. K. Tsuruta, E.M. Eddy, and D. A. O'Brien Insulin-Like Growth Factor-II/Cation-Independent Mannose 6-Phosphate Receptor Mediates Paracrine Interactions During Spermatogonial Development Biol Reprod, October 1, 2000; 63(4): 1006 - 1013. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. M. Gronning, J. E. Wang, A. H. Ree, T. B. Haugen, K. Tasken, and K. A. Tasken Regulation of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 in Rat Sertoli Cells: Induction by Germ Cell Residual Bodies, Interleukin-1{alpha}, and Second Messengers Biol Reprod, April 1, 2000; 62(4): 1040 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Tourtellotte, R Nagarajan, A Auyeung, C Mueller, and J Milbrandt Infertility associated with incomplete spermatogenic arrest and oligozoospermia in Egr4-deficient mice Development, January 11, 1999; 126(22): 5061 - 5071. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Mruk, C.-H. Cheng, Y.-H. Cheng, M.-y. Mo, J. Grima, B. Silvestrini, W. M. Lee, and C. Y. Cheng Rat Testicular Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase: Its Purification, Cellular Distribution, and Regulation Biol Reprod, August 1, 1998; 59(2): 298 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Trasler, F. Saberi, I. H. Somani, H. I. Adamali, J.-Q. Huang, S. R. Fortunato, G. Ritter, M. Gu, R. Aebersold, R. A. Gravel, et al. Characterization of the Testis and Epididymis in Mouse Models of Human Tay Sachs and Sandhoff Diseases and Partial Determination of Accumulated Gangliosides Endocrinology, July 1, 1998; 139(7): 3280 - 3288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. R. Aravindan, D. Mruk, W. M. Lee, and C. Y. Cheng Identification, Isolation, and Characterization of a 41-Kilodalton Protein from Rat Germ Cell-Conditioned Medium Exhibiting Concentration-Dependent Dual Biological Activities Endocrinology, August 1, 1997; 138(8): 3259 - 3268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N Boujrad, S. Ogwuegbu, M Garnier, C. Lee, B. Martin, and V Papadopoulos Identification of a stimulator of steroid hormone synthesis isolated from testis Science, June 16, 1995; 268(5217): 1609 - 1612. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |
