A sustentacular cell (also refered to as "Sertoli Cells")is a biological cell which is part of an epithelium that surrounds the Seminiferous Tubule and lies within a lobule in the testes. there are several important functions of the sertoli cells; Maintaining the blood-testis barrier The location of the seminiferous tubules are isolated from regular circulation by a Blood-testis barrier (similar to the blood-brain barrier). This is because the developing spermatids are haploids that contain only 23 individual chromosomes, and, without the blood-testis barrier the immune system would identify these cells as abnormal cells and destroy them. Sertoli cells regulate the transport of materials across BTB and regulate the environment surrounding the spermatocytes and spermatids in order to maintain a very stable environment. the environment at the lumen of a seminiferous tubule contains a fluid that is very differnet from interstitial fluid. Tubular fluid is high in androgens, estrogens, potassium, and amino acids Drawing of the structure of cork as it appeared under the microscope to Robert Hook from Micrographia which is the origin of the word cell. Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green). ... Types of epithelium This article discusses the epithelium, an animal anatomical structure. ...

Support Spermatogenesis

and that supports other cells. Examples of sustentacular cells are Sertoli cells, which support germ cells in the seminiferous tubules, or the cells of the olfactory epithelium, which help in olfaction. A Sertoli cell (a kind of sustentacular cell) is a nurse cell of the testes which is part of a seminiferous tubule. ... A germ cell is a kind of cell that is part of the germline, and is involved in the reproduction of organisms. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The olfactory epithelium is a specialized epithelial tissue inside the nasal cavity that is involved in smell. ... Olfaction (the sense of smell) is the detection of chemicals dissolved in air. ...