PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mruk, Dolores D.
AU  - Silvestrini, Bruno
AU  - Cheng, C. Yan
TI  - Anchoring Junctions As Drug Targets: Role in Contraceptive Development
AID  - 10.1124/pr.107.07105
DP  - 2008 Jun 01
TA  - Pharmacological Reviews
PG  - 146--180
VI  - 60
IP  - 2
4099  - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/60/2/146.short
4100  - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/60/2/146.full
SO  - Pharmacol Rev2008 Jun 01; 60
AB  - In multicellular organisms, cell-cell interactions are mediated in part by cell junctions, which underlie tissue architecture. Throughout spermatogenesis, for instance, preleptotene leptotene spermatocytes residing in the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium must traverse the blood-testis barrier to enter the adluminal compartment for continued development. At the same time, germ cells must also remain attached to Sertoli cells, and numerous studies have reported extensive restructuring at the Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-germ cell interface during germ cell movement across the seminiferous epithelium. Furthermore, the proteins and signaling cascades that regulate adhesion between testicular cells have been largely delineated. These findings have unveiled a number of potential “druggable” targets that can be used to induce premature release of germ cells from the seminiferous epithelium, resulting in transient infertility. Herein, we discuss a novel approach with the aim of developing a nonhormonal male contraceptive for future human use, one that involves perturbing adhesion between Sertoli and germ cells in the testis.