DHT Deficiency Perturbs the Integrity of the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium by Disrupting Tight and Adherens Junctions
April 2011
in “
Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica
”
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Studysummary In this study using rats, finasteride-induced DHT deficiency led to morphological changes in seminiferous tubules, linked with altered junctional protein expression, potentially impairing fertility.
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In a study on rats, DHT deficiency induced by finasteride led to morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium, characterized by premature germ cells sloughing into the lumen of seminiferous tubules. This disorder was linked to the disintegration of intercellular junctions, with decreased expression of proteins such as N-cadherin, β-catenin, and occludin, which are crucial for tight and adherens junctions. Although there was an increase in vinculin expression, it was insufficient to maintain proper adherens junction function. The hormonal imbalance affected the expression of junctional proteins, potentially leading to impaired fertility due to the untimely release of immature germ cells.
