Abstract
The Sertoli cell (blood-testis) barrier in the boar was visualized by the freeze-fracture, deep-etch, rotary-replication technique. Three kinds of cross-bridging structures were clearly recognized in the following three ectoplasmic specialization (ES) regions: (1) cross-bridges in the intercellular space between adjacent Sertoli cell membranes; (2) cross-bridges in the space between the Sertoli cell membrane and microrilament bundles; and (3) cross-bridges in the space between microfilament bundles and subsurface cisternae. Results from immunolocalization, vinculin and α-actinin were recognized in the Sertoli cell barrier. Our findings show that these structural elements of the Sertoli cell barrier are held together by these cross-bridging structures, and provide important morphological evidence that implicates the ES in the dynamic function of the microfilament bundles of the Sertoli cell barrier.
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