Cadherins

Cadherins are adhesion molecules which mediate homophilic Ca2+-dependent intercellular adhesion. They play a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development and in the maintenance of tissue architecture in adults. In this compilation, the authors review and discuss the structure of the cadherin-mediated junctions in seminiferous tubules and their functions in male fertility. Additionally, role of E-cadh in uterine and mammary gland homeostasis is reviewed, and the disruptive patterns of E-cadh expression in neoplastic conditions of the uterus and mammary glands in humans and domestic dogs and cats are described.