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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: JME-08-0174v1 43/2/43    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lui, W.-Y. Articles by Lee, W. M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lui, W.-Y. Articles by Lee, W. M

School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China

(Correspondence should be addressed to W M Lee; Email: hrszlwm{at}hku.hk)

Hormones and cytokines are known to regulate cellular functions in all tissues including testis. These two groups of biomolecules exert a broad spectrum of effects on various aspects of spermatogenesis. Among them, one of the regulatory effects on spermatogenesis is to modulate cell junction restructuring between Sertoli cells and between Sertoli and germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium. The restructuring of cell junctions is crucial to enable the migration of germ cells along the seminiferous epithelium from the basement membrane towards the tubular lumen, and at the same time for their attachment to Sertoli cells for support. This review will summarize the recent findings that focus on the role of hormones (FSH and testosterone) and cytokines (transforming growth factor-βs and tumor necrosis factor-) on cell junction restructuring in the testis and the molecular mechanisms.