CRC 1748 - A02: Biochemical properties of the seminiferous tubule extracellular matrix

Basic data for this project

Description

The seminiferous tubules of the testes are ensheathed by a basement membrane interacting with the undifferentiated germ cells nurtured by somatic Sertoli cells. This project studies the role of the basement membrane in the formation of seminiferous tubules. The interplay of Sertoli cells, peritubular myoid cells, and primordial germ cell-like cells as well as the impact of basement-membrane composition and rigidity will be analysed in vitro, using video-imaging and molecular profiling at the RNA and protein level. The generated organoid systems allow for in vitro functional screening of candidate genes in male infertility.