Objective
During spermatogenesis, germ cells located in the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium of the testis migrate across the blood-testis barrier (BTB) to continue differentiation on the luminal side. This trans-epithelial migration (TEM) requires regular restructuring of junctions present in the BTB. How germ cells pass the BTB, which harbours one of the tightest junctions present in the body, without compromising the integrity of the BTB is poorly understood. Several hypotheses have been put forward, but the mechanism remains unknown. We have recently published evidence for the existence of an intermediate compartment harbouring germ cells in transit across the BTB. This compartment is composed of the tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-3 and CAR. Claudin-3 and CAR appear to be unique to the intermediate compartment since these proteins are not general components of the BTB, and could therefore be used as biological markers. This application is based on these findings. We plan to use several different innovative approaches to uncover mechanisms for TEM and the role of the intermediate compartment in this process. 3D reconstructions of germ cells during TEM will be produced using several imaging techniques including the novel and powerful method of Dual Beam Microscopy. Integrity across the BTB will be analyzed by using tracers of defined size, protein composition of the intermediate compartment will be analyzed using a combination of imaging and gene expression tools and an in vitro model system will be set up using primary cells isolated from testis. Finally, the role of CAR in TEM will be analysed using a conditional CAR knockout mouse that was recently constructed in our laboratory. We expect that results will lead to new insights into mechanisms governing transit of germ cells across the BTB. The study will also be of general interest to reproductive biologists analysing male infertility and to researchers developing new male contraceptives.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
171 77 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.