Immunodetection of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Rat Sertoli Cell Cultures

PROBLEM: The presence of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in Sertoli cells has not been explored extensively. The expression of CAMs involved in cell-matrix and cell-to-cell interactions in Sertoli cell cultures was examined. METHOD OF STUDY: Immunohistochemical and Western blot techniques were applied to rat Sertoli cell cultures using specific antibodies to α₃, α₅, and α₆ integrin subunits; NCAM; and Cadherins. RESULTS: Expression of α₃ and α₆ integrin subunits (mainly laminin receptors) and lack of expression of α₅ integrin subunit (fibronectin receptor) was observed in Sertoli cells by immunohistochemistry. These cells also expressed neural CAM (NCAM) and N-cadherin. By Western blot analysis, Sertoli cell extracts reacted with antibodies to α₃ integrin subunit revealed a band approximately 130 kDa, whereas no expression of α5 integrin subunit was detected. Cell extracts incubated with antibodies to pan Cadherin exhibited a band approximately 120 kDa, whereas bands of 180, 140, and 120 kDa were observed with antibodies to NCAM. CONCLUSION: New data about the expression of receptors for extracellular matrix proteins (α₃ and α₆ integrin subunits) as well as cell-to-cell adhesion molecules (NCAM and Cadherins) are reported in rat Sertoli cell cultures.