Effects of electromagnetic pulse on the tight junction of mice blood-testis-barrier

AIM. To investigate the changes of the mice testes and the tight junction (Tj) relative molecular and to identify the molecular mechanisms of the mice blood-testis-barrier (BTB) permea- bility increasing after the mice were exposed to electromagnetic pulse (EMP). METHODS. Observe the changes vimentin of the mice testes by laser scanning confocal technique. RESULTS. After the 200 kVm^-1 EMP (the accumulative pulse times was 200) exposure, the vimentin in sustentacular cells of testis became irregularly shortened and derangement, and the intensity of immuno- fluorescence also showed ununiformity compared with control. CONCLUSION. The increasing of mice BTB permeability perhaps caused by the changing of vimentin.