A review on physiologic and functional features of testicular sertoli cells

The testis is the functional reproductive unit in male mammals that express male reproductive performance with special chemical and physical characteristics. In mammals, each testis consists of complex tubules divided morphologically and physiologically into different functional sections consisting of specialized cells that today are important topics for the recent research fields. In this paper, we try to discuss the somatic and specialized cells, called Sertoli cells, from different scientific respects resulting from studies by the present authors and those of other researchers. These cells are part of the seminiferous cells extended from the basal lamina to the lumen lining the entire seminiferous tubules like a veil; this morphological form is definitely associated with their functional and physiological roles. An interesting and notable point, which is the basis of many researches on these cells, is the non-dividing of Sertoli cells in their niches. Upon extraction they can be forced to divide in different ways including plating with lectin (due to their binding affinity to lectin after enzymatic digestion of the testicular tissue) in special culture media and in vitro conditions. This can promise a bright future in solving the infertility problems according to its fundamental roles in physical and chemical support of germ cells during the process of spermatogenesis.