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Sertoli Cell Definition

Sertoli cells are found in the testes, where they provide significant support to developing sperm cells. Sertoli cells act as a sperm cell nursery. They offer nourishment, produce hormones that regulate spermatogenesis and remove the waste discarded during sperm production.

  1. Description

    • Sertoli cells are found in the basal lamina, or bottom layer of tissue in the testes' seminiferous tubules--the site of spermatogenesis. They are large cells held tightly together and extend from the basal lamina to the lumen, or hollow part of the tubules. The Sertoli cells form two compartments in the seminiferous tubules. The first compartment in the basal layer contains sperm stem cells--these are cells that will potentially become mature sperm but are not actively growing. The second compartment extends to the lumen and contains rapidly growing sperm cells that are reaching maturity.

    Function

    • The role of Sertoli cells is to provide nourishment and essential chemical signals to growing sperm. Sertoli cells also secrete testicular fluid, which helps transport developing sperm to the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. When the sperm mature and develop their characteristic, streamlined shape, they will be pushed out of the Sertoli cells into the lumen. The mature sperm shed excess cytoplasm during the streamlining phase. Sertoli cells get rid of this waste by phagocytizing--eating--the excreted cellular fluid.

    Hormonal Controls

    • Sertoli cells secrete two hormones important to the regulation of spermatogenesis. First, Sertoli cells produce androgen binding protein--a protein hormone that causes sperm stem cells to bind testosterone. As the testosterone becomes more and more concentrated, it signals the cells to grow and become mature sperm. The second hormone Sertoli cells release is inhibin. This hormone inhibits the release of gonadotropin hormones from the anterior pituitary gland. Inhibin is released when sperm count is high and the body has decreased need for sperm production. When sperm count drops, inhibin levels also decrease.

    Testosterone

    • High levels of testosterone are required in the prenatal male child to develop the reproductive organs. Then testosterone levels drop off shortly after birth. Spermatogenesis does not begin until a boy reaches puberty, when testosterone levels surge again.

    History

    • Sertoli cells were first described by Italian histologist Enrico Sertoli. Sertoli lived in Italy from 1842 to 1910. Sertoli cells are also called sustenacular cells.

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