Cellular communication in the epididymis, an essential component of sperm maturation

间隙连接是相邻细胞之间直接通讯的重要结构成分。相邻细胞之间的通信对于协调组织内的细胞功能至关重要。精子在睾丸的曲细精管中形成。在哺乳动物中，睾丸精子不能游泳或受精。这些功能在精子成熟过程中在附睾中获得。 精子成熟的一个关键方面是附睾上皮必须协调附睾的不同区域，以改变精子沐浴和成熟的腔环境。本研究计划的总体目标是了解附睾间隙连接通讯的作用和调节以及细胞通讯在精子成熟中的作用。目前的短期目标是了解附睾中负责细胞间通讯的蛋白质，连接蛋白（Cxs）和泛连接蛋白（Panxs）的调控。我们首先打算确定在附睾分化过程中调节Cx的信号通路，并确定Cx是否对这一过程至关重要。然后，我们将评估Panxs在附睾中的调节方式，并确定RNA加工是否在这种调节中发挥重要作用。 最后， 我们将鉴定调节附睾Cx和Panx基因表达的因子，并展示这些因子自身是如何调节的。通过解决这些关键的基本方面的细胞通讯和基因表达的调控在附睾，我们希望发展到更好地了解细胞通讯，附睾功能和精子成熟的调节。

Gap junctions are essential structural components for direct communication between neighboring cells. Communication between adjacent cells is critical for coordinating cellular function within tissues. Spermatozoa are formed in the seminiferous tubules of the testis. In mammals, testicular spermatozoa cannot swim or fertilize. These functions are acquired in the epididymis during sperm maturation. A crucial aspect of sperm maturation is the fact that the epididymal epithelium must coordinate the different regions of epididymis in order to modify the luminal environment in which the sperm bathe and mature. The overall objectives of this research program are to understand the role and regulation of gap junctional communication in the epididymis and the role of cellular communication in sperm maturation. The current short-term objectives are to understand the regulation of the proteins responsible for intercellular communication, the connexins (Cxs) and pannexins (Panxs), in the epididymis. We first intend to identify the signalling pathways regulating Cxs during the differentiation of the epididymis, and determine if Cxs are critical to this process. We will then assess how Panxs are regulated in the epididymis and determine if RNA processing plays an essential role in this regulation. Finally, we will identify the factors that regulate the expression of epididymal Cx and Panx genes, and show how these factors are themselves regulated. By addressing these crucial fundamental aspects of cellular communication and regulation of gene expression in the epididymis we expect to develop to better understanding of the regulation of cellular communication, epididymal function and sperm maturation.