LAUSR

In mammals, spermatogenesis is closely related to intercellular interactions of germ cells and surrounding Sertoli cells, i.e. blood-testis barrier (BTB) and gap junction, which are subjected to hormone signals in testicular seminiferous tubules. Androgen signal plays pivotal role in regulating spermatogenesis, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Our recent study demonstrated a novel regulatory pattern of androgen in regulation of spermatogonia differentiation, which is androgen indirectly regulates the expression of ITGB1 on Sertoli Cells via intermediate molecule Wilms tumor-1 (Wt-1) during spermatogenesis. In this study, we identified that Connexin 43 (Cx43), the key component for gap junction distributed between spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, was also regulated by androgen signal. Chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) demonstrated that WT1 occupied Cx43 promoter in Sertoli cells, suggesting WT1 as an intermediate molecule in regulation of Cx43. Finally, we revealed a regulatory pattern of Cx43 by androgen in Sertoli cells, and the Sertoli cells in germ cell depleted microenvironment were sensitive to androgen signal, which enhances the understanding of the mechanism of spermatogenesis.