NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Sertoli cell

A Sertoli cell (a kind of sustentacular cell) is a 'nurse' cell of the testes which is part of a seminiferous tubule. Its main function is to nurture the developing sperm cells through the stages of spermatogenesis. It was also called the "mother cell." The cell is also responsible for establishing and maintaining the spermatogonial stem cell niche, which ensures the renewal of stem cells and the differentiation of spermatogonia into mature germ cells that progress stepwise through the long process of spermatogenesis, ending in the release of spermatozoa. Image File history File links Gray1150. ... Human male anatomy The testicles, known medically as testes (singular testis), are the male generative glands in animals. ... Species 50 species; see text<br> <nowiki>*</nowiki>Several subfamilies of Muroids<br>include animals called rats. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. ... A sustentacular cell is a biological cell that is part of an epithelium and that supports other cells. ... Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... Human male anatomy The testicles, known medically as testes (singular testis), are the male generative glands in animals. ... This article needs to be wikified. ...

Nomenclature

Sertoli cells are called so because of their eponym Enrico Sertoli, an Italian physiologist who discovered them while studying medicine in the University of Pavia, Italy. He published a description of this cell in 1865. The cell was discovered by Sertoli with a Belthle microscope purchased in 1862, which he used while studying medicine. In the 1865 publication, his first description used the terms "tree-like cell" or "stringy cell" and most importantly he referred to these "mother cells." It was other scientists who used Enrico's family name, Sertoli, to label these cell in publications, starting in 1888. As of 2006, two textbooks that are devoted specifically to the Sertoli cell have been published. An eponym is a person, whether real or fictitious, whose name has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery, or other item. ...

Functions

As mentioned earlier Sertoli cells are involved in the process of spermatogenesis. This process is stimulated by Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary gland.

Sertoli cells also secrete anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during the early stages of fetal life. After puberty, they secrete the hormone inhibin and activins. Antimullerian hormone is a protein hormone produced by human and other mammalian gonads. ... Fetus at eight weeks Foetus redirects here. ... A hormone (from Greek horman - to set in motion) is a chemical messenger from one cell (or group of cells) to another. ... Inhibin is a peptide that is an inhibitor of FSH synthesis and secretion and participates in the regulation of the menstrual cycle. ...

The junctions of Sertoli cells form the blood-testis barrier, a structure that partitions the interstitial blood compartment of the testis from the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells control the entry and exit of nutrients, hormones and other chemicals into the tubules of the testis as well as make the adluminal compartment an immune-privileged site. The blood-testis barrier (abbreviated as BTB) is a barrier between the blood vessels and the seminiferous tubules of the animal testes. ... Human blood smear: a - erythrocytes; b - neutrophil; c - eosinophil; d - lymphocyte. ... // Nutrients and the body A nutrient is any element or compound necessary for or contributing to an organisms metabolism, growth, or other functioning. ... A hormone (from Greek horman - to set in motion) is a chemical messenger from one cell (or group of cells) to another. ...

Once fully differentiated, the Sertoli cell is unable to proliferate. Therefore, once spermatogenesis has begun, no more Sertoli cells are created. Recently however, some scientists have found a way to grow these cells outside of the body. This gives rise to the possibility of repairing some defects that cause male infertility.

They also secrete androgen binding protein and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which has been demonstrated to function in promoting undifferentiating spermatogonia, which ensures stem cell self-renewal during the perinatal period. Other factors, such as the Ets related molecule (ERM transcription factor) are needed for maintenance of the spermatogonial stem cell in the adult testis.

External link

Categories: Protein secreting cells | Barrier cells | Cell biology stubs A reproductive systems is the ensembles and interactions of organs and or substances within an organism that stricly pertain to reproduction. ... Schematic frontal view of female anatomy The cervix (from Latin neck) is actually the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. ... A womans clitoris extends from the visible portion to a point below the pubic bone. ... In female human anatomy, the clitoral hood, (also called prepuce), is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoral glans. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The Fallopian tubes or oviducts are two very fine tubes leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus. ... The Bartholins glands (also called Bartholin glands or greater vestibular glands) are two glands located slightly below and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina in women. ... ... The hymen (or maidenhead) is a ring of tissue around the vaginal opening. ... A labium (plural is labia) is any of four folds of tissue of the female external genitalia. ... Cross section of the breast of a human female. ... Human female internal reproductive anatomy Ovaries are egg-producing reproductive organs found in female organisms. ... In human anatomy, the Skenes glands (also known as the lesser vestibular or paraurethral glands) are glands located on the upper wall of the vagina, around the lower end of the urethra. ... Female anatomy In anatomy, the urethra is a tube which connects the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. ... Female internal reproductive anatomy The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. ... Human female internal reproductive anatomy. ... Labeled picture of external human female reproductive anatomy. ... Female anatomy In anatomy, the urethra is a tube which connects the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. ... Human male anatomy The testicles, known medically as testes (singular testis), are the male generative glands in animals. ... The scrotum (human variant shown) is a thin extension of the abdomen that contains the testes and helps regulate their temperature. ... Male Anatomy The spermatic cord is the name given to the cord-like structure formed by the vas deferens and surrounding tissue (veins, arteries, nerves, and lymphatic vessels) that run from the abdomen down to each testicle. ... Male Anatomy The epididymis is part of the human male reproductive system and is present in all male mammals. ... Human male anatomy The testicles, known medically as testes (singular testis), are the male generative glands in animals. ... Rete testis is an anastomosing network of delicate tubules located in the testicular hilum that carries sperm from the seminiferous tubules to the vasa efferentia. ... The efferent ducts are part of the testes and connect the rete testis with the epididymis. ... Male Anatomy The vas deferens, also called ductus deferens, (Latin: carrying-away vessel) is part of the human male anatomy. ... Male Anatomy The seminal vesicles are a pair of glands on the posterior surface of the urinary bladder of males. ... Male Anatomy The Ejaculatory ducts are part of the human male anatomy, which cause the reflex action of ejaculation. ... The penis (plural penises or penes) or phallus is an external male sexual organ. ... A corpus cavernosum is one of a pair of a sponge-like regions of erectile tissue which contain most of the blood in the male penis during erection. ... Glans penis. ... The fundiform ligament is a specialization of the superficial (Scarpas) fascia of the abdomen. ... The Male Anatomy The foreskin or prepuce is a retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect. ... A frenulum (or frenum) is a small fold of tissue that prevents an organ in the body from moving too far. ... Male Anatomy The prostate is an exocrine gland of the male mammalian reproductive system. ... Male Anatomy In the anatomy of the male human body, the bulbourethral glands (or Cowpers glands) are two small, rounded, and somewhat lobulated bodies, of a yellow color, about the size of peas, placed behind and lateral to the membranous portion of the urethra, between the two layers of...

Nomenclature

Functions

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