Crosstalk between Sertoli and Germ Cells in Male Fertility

The testis produces three endogenous regulatory bioactive peptides known as F5-, NC1-, and LG3/4/5-peptide to modulate blood–testis barrier (BTB) and spermatogenic functions. F5- and NC1-peptide promote BTB remodeling by making the barrier ‘leaky’ and facilitate the degeneration of adhesion sites at the Sertoli–spermatid interface known as the apical ectoplasmic specialization (ES), to support the transport of preleptotene spermatocytes across...