Immunohistochemical study of a membrane skeletal molecule, protein 4.1G, in mouse seminiferous tubules.

Protein 4.1 families have recently been established as potential organizers of an adherens system. In the adult mouse testis, protein 4.1G (4.1G) localized as a line pattern in both basal and adluminal compartments of the seminiferous tubules, attaching regions of germ cells and Sertoli cells. By double staining for 4.1G and F-actin, their localizations were shown to be different, indicating that 4.1G was localized in a region other than the basal and apical ectoplasmic specializations, which formed the Sertoli-Sertoli cell junction and Sertoli-spermatid junction, respectively. By electron microscopy, immunoreactive products were seen exclusively on the cell membranes of Sertoli cells, attaching to the various differentiating germ cells. The immunolocalization of cadherin was identical to that of 4.1G, supporting the idea that 4.1G may be functionally interconnected with adhesion molecules. In an experimental mouse model of cadmium treatment, in which tight and adherens junctions of seminiferous tubules were disrupted, the 4.1G immunostaining in the seminiferous tubules was dramatically decreased. These results indicate that 4.1G may have a basic adhesive function between Sertoli cells and germ cells from the side of Sertoli cells.