• PMID: 20180417
• Gene Name: CDH18
• Condition: Azoospermia
• Association: Cadherin molecules such as CDH18 and PCDH17 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia, which might be related with the abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells.
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: CDH18, PCDH17
• Other associated phenotypes: Azoospermia

[Expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in human azoospermic testes]

Yang B, Yuan JL, Gao XK, Liu HL, Qin WJ, Shao C, Liu F, Kang FX.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of cadherin molecules CDH18 and PCDH17 in normal and azoospermic human testes and their significance. METHODS: We studied the routine pathological slices of normal and non-obstructive azoospermic human testis tissues for changes in the tight junction of Sertoli-germ cells, and identified the differential gene expression profiles of the normal and azoospermic testis tissues using cDNA microarrays containing multiple cadherin molecules. The results were confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS: Abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells was observed in 37.5% of the azoospermic testis samples, and obvious changes were seen in the expressions of some cadherin molecules, with down-regulation of CDH18 and PCDH17. CONCLUSION: Cadherin molecules such as CDH18 and PCDH17 may play a certain role in the development and progression of azoospermia, which might be related with the abnormal tight junction of the Sertoli-germ cells. FAU - Yang, Bo AU - Yang B AD - Department of Urology, Xifing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710033, China. drboyung@yahoo.com.cn FAU - Yuan, Jian-Lin AU - Yuan JL FAU - Gao, Xiao-Kang AU - Gao XK FAU - Liu, He-Liang AU - Liu HL FAU - Qin, Wei-Jun AU - Qin WJ FAU - Shao, Chen AU - Shao C FAU - Liu, Fei AU - Liu F