The role of gap junction proteins in infertility

International Journal of Infertility and Fetal Medicine

Volumn 1, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 11-18

  Tripathi, Piyush ^a   Tripathi, Manorama ^a  

^a WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

Author keywords

Connexin; Fertility; Gap junction

Indexed keywords

GAP JUNCTION PROTEIN;

ARTICLE; CELL COMMUNICATION; CELL DIFFERENTIATION; CELL MATURATION; CELL PROLIFERATION; DOWN REGULATION; EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT; GERM CELL; HUMAN; INFERTILITY; NONHUMAN; OVARY CELL; PROTEIN EXPRESSION; PROTEIN FUNCTION; PROTEIN LOCALIZATION; SPERMATOGENESIS; TESTIS CELL;

EID: 79952062886     PISSN: 22293817     EISSN: 22293833     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10016-1002     Document Type: Article

References (84)

1. Herve JC, D Sarrouilhe, Connexin-made channels as pharmacological targets. Curr Pharm Des 2005;11(15):1941-58
2. Carette D, et al. Major involvement of connexin 43 in seminiferous epithelial junction dynamics and male fertility. Dev Biol, 2010.
3. Kidder GM, AA Mhawi. Gap junctions and ovarian folliculogenesis. Reproduction 2002;123(5):613-20
4. Sridharan S, et al. Proliferation of adult sertoli cells following conditional knockout of the gap junctional protein GJA1 (connexin 43) in mice. Biol Reprod 2007;76(5):804-12
5. Brehm R, et al. A sertoli cell-specific knockout of connexin 43 prevents initiation of spermatogenesis. Am J Pathol 2007;171(1):19-31
6. Tong D, et al. Oogenesis defects in a mutant mouse model of oculodentodigital dysplasia. Dis Model Mech 2009;2(3-4):157-67.
7. Maeda S, et al Structure of the connexin 26 gap junction channel at 3.5 A resolution. Nature 2009;458(7238):597-602
8. Harris AL. Emerging issues of connexin channels: Biophysics fills the gap. Q Rev Biophys 2001;34(3):325-472
9. Laird DW. Life cycle of connexins in health and disease. Biochem J, 2006;394(Pt 3):527-43
10. Harris A. Connexins: A guide (1st ed) 2008, New York: Springer.
11. Cheng CY, DD Mruk. Cell junction dynamics in the testis: Sertoli-germ cell interactions and male contraceptive development. Physiol Rev 2002;82(4):825-74
12. Davidoff MS, et al. Cellular architecture of the lamina propria of human seminiferous tubules. Cell Tissue Res 1990;262(2): 253-61
13. Mruk DD, CY Cheng. Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli, germ cell interactions and their significance in germ cell movement in the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis. Endocr Rev, 2004;25(5):747-806
14. Pointis G, et al. Gap junctional communication in the male reproductive system. Biochim Biophys Acta 2005;1719(1-2): 102-16
15. Drummond AE. TGF beta signalling in the development of ovarian function. Cell Tissue Res 2005;322(1):107-15
16. Li R, Phillips DM, Mather JP. Activin promotes ovarian follicle development in vitro. Endocrinology 1995;136(3): 849-56
17. McNatty KP, et al. Control of early ovarian follicular development. J Reprod Fertil Suppl 1999;54:3-16
18. McNatty KP, et al. Control of ovarian follicular development to the gonadotrophin-dependent phase: A 2006 perspective. Soc Reprod Fertil Suppl 2007;64:55-68
19. Vaccari S, et al. Generation of mouse oocytes defective in cAMP synthesis and degradation: Endogenous cyclic AMP is essential for meiotic arrest. Dev Biol, 2008;316(1):124-34
20. Edry I, Sela-Abramovich S, Dekel N. Meiotic arrest of oocytes depends on cell-to-cell communication in the ovarian follicle. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2006;252(1-2):102-06
21. Willingham-Rocky, LA, et al. Cloning of GJA1 (connexin43) and its expression in canine ovarian follicles throughout the estrous cycle. Gene Expr Patterns 2007;7(1-2):66-71
22. Risley MS. Connexin gene expression in seminiferous tubules of the Sprague-Dawley rat. Biol Reprod 2000;62(3):748-54
23. Juneja SC. mRNA expression pattern of multiple members of connexin gene family in normal and abnormal fetal gonads in mouse. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2003;47(2):147-56
24. Berisha B, et al. Expression and localization of gap junctional connexins 26 and 43 in bovine periovulatory follicles and in corpus luteum during different functional stages of oestrous cycle and pregnancy. Reprod Domest Anim 2009;44(2):295-302
25. Nitta M, et al. Identification and expression analysis of CX45 and CX60 as major connexins in porcine oocytes. J Anim Sci 2010.
26. Mok BW, Yeung WS, Luk JM. Differential expression of gapjunction gene connexin 31 in seminiferous epithelium of rat testes. FEBS Lett 1999;453(3):243-48
27. Gilleron J, et al. Connexin 43 a potential regulator of cell proliferation and apoptosis within the seminiferous epithelium. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2009;41(6):1381-90
28. Fischer P, et al. Connexin 33: A rodent-specific member of the gap junction protein family? J Androl 2005;26(1):75-84
29. Carette D, et al. Connexin 33 impairs gap junction functionality by accelerating connexin 43 gap junction plaque endocytosis. Traffic 2009;10(9):1272-85
30. Chang M, Werner R, Dahl G. A role for an inhibitory connexin in testis? Dev Biol 1996;175(1):50-56
31. Carette D, et al. Heteromeric connexin 43/connexin 33 complex endocytosis: A connexin phosphorylation independent mechanism. Biochimie 2010;92(5):555-59
32. Batias C, et al. Connexin43 gene expression and regulation in the rodent seminiferous epithelium. J Histochem Cytochem 2000;48(6):793-805
33. Decrouy X, et al. Functional characterization of Cx43 based gap junctions during spermatogenesis. J Cell Physiol 2004;200(1):146-54
34. Vitale ML, Akpovi CD, Pelletier RM. Cortactin/tyrosinephosphorylated cortactin interaction with connexin 43 in mouse seminiferous tubules. Microsc Res Tech 2009;72(11):856-67
35. Granot I, et al. Connexin43 in rat oocytes: Developmental modulation of its phosphorylation. Biol Reprod 2002;66(3):568-73.
36. Sutovsky P, et al. Dynamic changes of gap junctions and cytoskeleton during in vitro culture of cattle oocyte cumulus complexes. Biol Reprod 1993;49(6):1277-87
37. Simon AM, Chen H, Jackson CL, Cx37 and Cx43 localize to zona pellucida in mouse ovarian follicles. Cell Commun Adhes 2006;13(1-2):61-77
38. Veitch GI, et al. Selective assembly of connexin 37 into heterocellular gap junctions at the oocyte/granulosa cell interface. J Cell Sci 2004;117(Pt 13):2699-707
39. Teilmann SC. Differential expression and localization of connexin-37 and connexin-43 in follicles of different stages in the 4-week-old mouse ovary. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2005;234 (1-2):27-35
40. Johnson ML, et al. Expression of gap junctional proteins connexin 43, 32 and 26 throughout follicular development and atresia in cows. Endocrine 1999;10(1):43-51
41. Borowczyk E, et al. Expression of gap junctional connexins 26, 32 and 43 mRNA in ovarian preovulatory follicles and corpora lutea in sheep. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2006;84(10):1011-20
42. Manthey D, et al. Molecular cloning and functional expression of the mouse gap junction gene connexin-57 in human HeLa cells. J Biol Chem 1999;274(21):14716-23
43. Itahana K, et al. Isolation and characterization of a novel connexin gene, Cx-60, in porcine ovarian follicles. Endocrinology 1998;139(1):320-29
44. Batias C, et al. Modified expression of testicular gap-junction connexin 43 during normal spermatogenic cycle and in altered spermatogenesis. Cell Tissue Res 1999;298(1):113-21
45. Tramoni M, et al. Contraceptive steroids from pharmaceutical waste perturbate junctional communication in Sertoli cells. Biochimie 2009;91(11-12):1366-75
46. Pluciennik F, Joffre M, Deleze J. Follicle-stimulating hormone increases gap junction communication in Sertoli cells from immature rat testis in primary culture. J Membr Biol 1994;139(2):81-96
47. Grassi F, et al. Putative second messengers affect cell coupling in the seminiferous tubules. Cell Biol Int Rep 1986;10(8):631-39.
48. Lablack A, et al. Ultrastructural and biochemical evidence for gap junction and connexin 43 expression in a clonal Sertoli cell line: A potential model in the study of junctional complex formation. Cell Tissue Res 1998;294(2):279-87
49. Gilleron J, et al. Three-dimensional analysis of connexin 43 gap junction in the ex vivo rat seminiferous tubules: Short-term effects of hormonal effectors. Microsc Res Tech 2009;72(11): 845-55
50. Lefebvre DL, et al. Myometrial transcriptional regulation of the gap junction gene, connexin-43. Reprod Fertil Dev 1995;7(3):603-11
51. Lucas TF, et al. 17beta-estradiol induces the translocation of the estrogen receptors ESR1 and ESR2 to the cell membrane, MAPK3/1 phosphorylation and proliferation of cultured immature rat Sertoli cells. Biol Reprod 2008;78(1):101-14
52. Hess RA, et al. Adult testicular enlargement induced by neonatal hypothyroidism is accompanied by increased Sertoli and germ cell numbers. Endocrinology 1993;132(6):2607-13
53. St-Pierre N, et al. Neonatal hypothyroidism alters the localization of gap junctional protein connexin 43 in the testis and messenger RNA levels in the epididymis of the rat. Biol Reprod 2003;68(4):1232-40
54. Luk JM, et al. Identification of novel genes expressed during spermatogenesis in stage-synchronized rat testes by differential display. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 307(4):782-90
55. Granot I, Dekel N. Developmental expression and regulation of the gap junction protein and transcript in rat ovaries. Mol Reprod Dev 1997;47(3):231-39
56. Granot I, Dekel N. Phosphorylation and expression of connexin- 43 ovarian gap junction protein are regulated by luteinizing hormone. J Biol Chem, 1994;269(48):30502-09
57. Kalma Y, et al. Luteinizing hormone-induced connexin 43 downregulation: Inhibition of translation. Endocrinology 2004;145(4):1617-24
58. Valdimarsson G, PA De Sousa, Kidder GM. Coexpression of gap junction proteins in the cumulus-oocyte complex. Mol Reprod Dev 1993;36(1):7-15
59. Juneja SC, et al. Defects in the germ line and gonads of mice lacking connexin43. Biol Reprod 1999;60(5):1263-70
60. Francis RJ, Lo CW. Primordial germ cell deficiency in the connexin 43 knockout mouse arises from apoptosis associated with abnormal p53 activation. Development 2006;133(17):3451-60.
61. Gilleron J, et al. A potential novel mechanism involving connexin 43 gap junction for control of sertoli cell proliferation by thyroid hormones. J Cell Physiol 2006;209(1):153-61
62. Plum A, et al. Connexin31-deficiency in mice causes transient placental dysmorphogenesis but does not impair hearing and skin differentiation. Dev Biol 2001;231(2):334-47
63. Willecke K, et al. Biological functions of connexin genes revealed by human genetic defects, dominant negative approaches and targeted deletions in the mouse. Novartis Found Symp 1999;219:76-88; discussion 88-96
64. Izzo G, et al. Connexin 43 expression in the testis of the frog Rana esculenta. Zygote 2006;14(4):349-57
65. Kotula-Balak M, et al. Connexin 43 expression in human and mouse testes with impaired spermatogenesis. Eur J Histochem 2007;51(4):261-68
66. Simon AM, et al. Female infertility in mice lacking connexin 37. Nature 1997;385(6616):525-59
67. Gittens JE, GM Kidder. Differential contributions of connexin37 and connexin43 to oogenesis revealed in chimeric reaggregated mouse ovaries. J Cell Sci 2005;118(Pt 21):5071-78
68. Gershon E, et al. Oocyte-directed depletion of connexin 43 using the Cre-LoxP system leads to subfertility in female mice. Dev Biol 2008;313(1):1-12
69. Nagano T, Suzuki F. Freeze-fracture observations on the intercellular junctions of Sertoli cells and of Leydig cells in the human testis. Cell Tissue Res 1976;166(1):37-48
70. Bigliardi E, Vegni-Talluri M. Gap junctions between Sertoli cells in the infertile human testis. Fertil Steril 1977;28(7):755-58.
71. Steger K, Tetens F, Bergmann M. Expression of connexin 43 in human testis. Histochem Cell Biol 1999;112(3):215-20
72. Defamie N, et al. Impaired gap junction connexin 43 in Sertoli cells of patients with secretory azoospermia: A marker of undifferentiated Sertoli cells. Lab Invest 2003;83(3):449-56
73. Winterhager E, et al. Replacement of connexin 43 by connexin 26 in transgenic mice leads to dysfunctional reproductive organs and slowed ventricular conduction in the heart. BMC Dev Biol 2007;7:26.
74. Liu XZ, et al. Mutations in GJA1 (connexin 43) are associated with non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness. Hum Mol Genet 2001;10(25):2945-51
75. Paznekas WA, et al. Connexin 43 (GJA1) mutations cause the pleiotropic phenotype of oculodentodigital dysplasia. Am J Hum Genet 2003;72(2):408-18
76. Paznekas WA, et al. GJA1 mutations, variants, and connexin 43 dysfunction as it relates to the oculodentodigital dysplasia phenotype. Hum Mutat 2009;30(5):724-33
77. Tong D, et al. A dominant loss-of-function GJA1 (Cx43) mutant impairs parturition in the mouse. Biol Reprod 2009;80(6):1099-106.
78. Risley MS, et al. Cell, age and stage-dependent distribution of connexin 43 gap junctions in testes. J Cell Sci 1992;103(Pt 1):81-96.
79. Nelles E, et al. Defective propagation of signals generated by sympathetic nerve stimulation in the liver of connexin 32-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci. USA 1996;93(18):9565-70.
80. Kirchhoff S, et al. Reduced cardiac conduction velocity and predisposition to arrhythmias in connexin 40-deficient mice. Curr Biol 1998;8(5):299-302
81. van Rijen HV, et al. Impaired conduction in the bundle branches of mouse hearts lacking the gap junction protein connexin40. Circulation 2001;103(11):1591-98
82. Reaume AG. et al. Cardiac malformation in neonatal mice lacking connexin 43. Science 1995;267(5205):1831-34
83. Plum A, et al. Unique and shared functions of different connexins in mice. Curr Biol 2000;10(18):1083-91
84. White TW, Goodenough DA, Paul DL. Targeted ablation of connexin 50 in mice results in microphthalmia and zonular pulverulent cataracts. J Cell Biol 1998;143(3):815-25