Sertoli cell
| Sertoli cell | |
|---|---|
Germinal epithelium of the testicle. 1. basal lamina 2. spermatogonia 3. primary (1st-order) spermatocyte 4. secondary (2nd-order) spermatocyte 5. developing spermatid 6. mature spermatid 7. Sertoli cell 8. tight junction (blood-testis barrier) | |
Histological section through testicular parenchyma of a boar. 1. lumen of Tubulus seminiferus contortus 2. spermatids 3. spermatocytes 4. spermatogonia 5. Sertoli cell 6. myofibroblasts 7. Leydig cells 8. capillaries | |
| Details | |
| System | Reproductive system |
| Location | Testes |
| Function | Provide nourishment to the developing spermatozoa |
| Identifiers | |
| MeSH | D012708 |
| FMA | 72298 |
| Anatomical terms of microanatomy | |
Sertoli cells are a type of sustentacular "nurse" cell found in human testes which contribute to the process of spermatogenesis (the production of sperm) as a structural component of the seminiferous tubules. They are activated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted by the adenohypophysis and express FSH receptor on their membranes.