• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 1992

In order to study on the Sertoli cell, we attempt have been made to measure the average number of each germ cells per Sertoli cell on the 12 stages of cycle in matured korean Jindo dog. The fine structure of Sertoli cell junctional specialization was studied with electron microscope. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The average number of various germ cells associated with Sertoli cell was 9.77 to 13. 80 through stages of cycle and the total average number was 11.62. 2. Sertoli-Sertoli cell junctional specialization was present in seminiferous epilthelium, and Sertoli-spermatid cell junctional specialization rose from stage 8 spermatid, persisted to step 13 spermatid and then disappeared. The structure of Sedoli-spermatid cell juncticnal specialization was not similar to that of Sertoli cxlls. 3. Just after spermiation, free-surface of Sertoli-spermatid cell junctional specialization was replaced by Sertoli cell cytoplasm with tubulobulbar complex at the neiglaboring region observed. 4. The Sertoli cell process was located within the cytoplasm of late stage spermatids. Some membranes of residual body and spermatid cytoplasm partly disappeared, resulting in opening of the cytoplasm of spermatid into that Sertoli cell. This fact suggested that spermatid cytoplasm was partly eliminated.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 1998

The three-dimensional structure of the Sertoli cell in the rat was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Morphologically, seven types of Sertoli cell processes were evident : Shrot, flat and ramified processes are projected from the lateral side of the basal portion of Sertoli cell. Leaf-like processes are attached to the surface of spermatocytes and spermatids. Slender cord-like processes, flat and irregular shaped processes, sucker-like processes and club-like processes are observated in the middle and apical portion of seminiferous epithelium. The sheet-like processes rest upon more than one-thirds of the surface of each spermatogonium, spermatocyes and spermatids located in the proximity of the Sertoli cell. All Sertoli processes are originated from Sertoli cell column. Just before spermiation, the processes which are attached to the head of maturation spermatid are eliminated. Though the mechanism for elimination of residual body is not known, these observations segget that the Sertoli cell process are thought to have a reciprocity with the germ cells.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.331-339
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of periodic acid thiocarbohy-drazide silver proteinate, physical development (PA-TCH-SP, -PD) stain to the seminiferous tubules for the ultrastructural studies of Sertoli cell column and Sertoli cell processes. In the Sertoli cell cloumn and Sertoli cell processes, high concentration of the reactive granules were observed under transmission electronmicroscope (TEM) after PA-TCH-SP-PD stain. Also some reactive granules were seen in the spermatogonium cytoplasm, clearly. These reactive granules specifically stained with PA-TCH-SP, -PD make the Sertoli cell column, Sertoli cell processes and spermatogonium cytoplasm easy to distinguish from nucleus of the germ cells, spermatocyte, spermatid and residual body which did not contain the reactive granules. This result indicates that the PA-TCH-SP, -PD stain is superior to other traditional electronic double stain methods for the ultrastructural studies of Sertoli cell.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2006

The purpose of the present study was to establish culture conditions for the in vitro study of the neonatal piglet Sertoli cell. Isolation for the culture of Sertoli cell was established using collagenase and pancreatin digestion of testicular tissues. The effects of various culture media, fetal bovine serum(FBS), follicular stimulating hormone(FSH), epidermal growth factor(EGF) and insulin-transferrin-sodium selenite(ITS) on growth of neonatal piglet Sertoli cells were investigated. The mitogenic effects of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium+Ham's F-12 medium was higher than other media used in this experiment. The addition of 1% FBS in cultures was necessary for attachment of Sertoli cell clusters. However, except FBS and EGF, FSH and ITS did not stimulate Sertoli cell proliferation. When Sertoli cells isolated from neonatal piglets were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium+Ham's F-12 medium supplemented with 1% FBS, FSH EGF and ITS, the yield and plating efficiency of Sertoli cells were largely increased. Confluency of Sertoli cells was reached as early as 4 days of culture. The method described here reduces or eliminates many of the drawbacks of the conventional procedures used to isolate and culture of Sertoli cells, thus providing a useful tool in studies of growth kinetics and regulation of cell proliferation in vitro.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.448-453
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• 1999

The three-dimensional structure of the Sertoli cell in the Korean native bull was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Morphologically, four types of Sertoli cell processes were evident: 1) sheet-like processes, 2) sleeve-like processes, 3) bough-like processes and 4) finger-like processes. The sheet-like processes rested upon more than half of the surface of each spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermatid. Sleeve-like processes, bough-like processes and finger-like processes are observed in the middle and apical portion of seminiferous tubule. All Sertoli cell processes are originated from Sertoli cell column. Just before spermiation, the apical sheet-like processes are shifted from their position at the spermatid head, and bough-like processes covered the disengaged residual body, after which the residual body was no longer evident in the tubule. Though the mechanism for this elimination is not known, the process suggests a reciprocity between the Sertoli and germ cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2005

The present report aimed at evaluating the effect of bisphenol A(BPA) and diethylstilbestrol(DES) on Leydig or Sertoli cell-lines. To identify the differences in the susceptibility to BPA upon different cell-types, assay of the cell viability was done on TM3(Leydig cells) and TM4(Sertoli cells) cell-lines. The result indicates that Sertoli cells are more sensitive to low dose of BPA than Leydig cells. Also, the BPA- or DES-treated Sertoli cells showed a reduction of phospholipase D(PLD) activity identically. According to the confirmation of the mRNA expression of fas receptor and fas ligand in the BPA-treated cells, fas/fasL system activated by BPA will deliver the apoptosis signal onto Sertoli TM4 cells. However, Fas/FasL system was not activated in the DES-treated cells unlike the BPA-treated cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.199-203
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• 2009

The somatic Sertoli cells play an essential role in testis determination and spermatogenesis by providing nutrition and structural support. In the current study, we report on the novel Ankrd7 gene that contains five ankyrin repeat domains. This gene was specifically expressed in Sertoli cells and was regulated in a maturation-dependent manner. Its expression was restricted to testicular tissue, and its mRNA could be detected in testes at as early as 14 dpp (days post partum) using RT-PCR analysis. In both testicular tissue sections and in vitro cultured Sertoli cells, the Ankrd7 protein was localized to the nucleus of the Sertoli cell. Immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry investigations showed that the protein was detectable in testicular tissues at 20 dpp, at which time Sertoli cells were gradually differentiating into their mature cellular form. These results suggest that Ankrd7 is probably involved in the process of Sertoli cell maturation and in spermatogenesis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2001

Sertoli cells in the normal adult testis are nondividing cells, which are relatively inconspicuous on cross section of the seminiferous tubule and comprise about 10% to 15% of the tubular cellular elements. Ultrastructurally, Sertoli cells have characteristic nucleoli, plasma membrane, and cytoplasmic components. The plasma membrane has two types of intercellular junctions which are developed at puberty: junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells and Sertoli cell-germ ceil junction. However, the ultrastructural findings of Sertoli cells in human fetus is not fully elucidate yet. In the present study, human fetal testes ($14\sim27$ weeks) obtained from artificially induced abortions legally without gross malformation were studied using transmission electron microscopy to make clear the differentiation process of Sertoli cells in human. In human fetal testes from 14 weeks to 27 weeks, the cell junctions of Sertoli-germ cells and Sertoli-Sertoli cells are desmosome like structure and not tight junction or desmosome. The Overall intracytoplasmic organelles of Sertoli cells are relatively sparse. The mitochondrias are relatively abundant but no developed cristae. And the rough endoplasmic reticuli are abundant and smooth endoplasmic reticuli are sparse. The amount of lipid droplets are regularly observed in human fetal Sertoli cells. No microfilaments or Charcot-Bottcher's crystalloids are present. From the results, Sertoli cells in human fetal testes are somewhat different ultrastructural findings with puberty or adult. However, to make clear the differentiation process of Sertoli cells in human, further study for 28 weeks to puberty is required.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.68-73
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• 1995

This study of culturing testicular cell types in vitro has potential to be an invaluable tool for assessing the mechanisms of testicular toxicity, especially those of intragonadal interaction and spermatogenesis. Combined with the Sertoli/germ cell cultures, Leydig cells provide comprehensive and detailed information on the action of testicular toxicants at the level of the testis. Sertoli/germ cell were isolated and incubated well in vitro from 20~30 g rats and Leydig cells from 250~300 g rats. The Sertoli cells isolated from the testis of the SD rats grew into monolayer on about the 2nd~3rd day of culture, an appreciable cell increment being observed between the 4th~5th day. The Leydig cells isolated from the testis of the SD rats grew into a monolayer on about the 3rd-4th day of culture, an appreciable cell increment being observed between the 5th-7th day. These results suggest that Sertoli and Leydig cells can be cultured as a male fertility evaluation method alternative to the in vivo/conventional fertility test method and further study for the physio-chemical determination is needed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.187-190
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• 1993

A study was conducted to compare and determine the incidence of ultrastructural alterations in the testes of Philippine carabaos and crossbred buffaloes. Thirteen Philippine carabao bulls and twenty five crossbred male buffaloes were used in this study. Testicular biopsy was used to get tissue samples which were prepared for histologic evaluation using the electron microscopy method. There was no significant difference in Sertoli cell alterations between Philippine carabaos and crossbred buffaloes. However, more crossbred buffaloes (40%) had both Sertoli cell and spermatogenic cell alterations which were significantly higher compared to the 7.7% occurrence in Philippine carabaos. Sertoli cells of crossbred buffaloes exhibited intracavitary structures and exaggerated infoldings of the nuclear envelope (36%), nuclear bleb (16%), and intracytoplasmic vacuolations (16%). Philippine carabaos exhibited few ultrastructural alterations which were mainly intracytoplasmic vacuolations in Sertoli cells (15%).