Three‐dimensional reconstruction of a rat stage V Sertoli cell: II. Morphometry of Sertoli–Sertoli and Sertoli–germ‐cell relationships

Abstract

Sertoli--Sertoli and Sertoli--germ-cell configurational relationships were studied using morphometric techniques and direct measurements as obtained from micrographs used to reconstruct a model of a rat stage V Sertoli cell. Regional areas of the Sertoli cell surface, which faced germ cells, other Sertoli cells, or noncellular structures, were expressed as relative surface area percentages; and the absolute surface areas for these regional areas were calculated. The surface areas of the reconstructed cell, in its unmagnified state, was found to be 12,163 micron2. Cell processes were enumerated and studied using morphometric techniques. The surface area of the reconstructed Sertoli cell facing germ cells and Sertoli cells was also determined. Five Sertoli cells showed extensive contact with the reconstructed cell at the level of the Sertoli--Sertoli junctional contact region. This contact region averaged 3.51 micron in width. The relative and absolute surface area of subsurface ectoplasmic specialization of the Sertoli cell that faced germ cells and other Sertoli cells was calculated, and the extent of penetration of step 17 spermatids into the Sertoli crypts was determined. Surface relationships of the reconstructed cell to cellular and noncellular elements were depicted on outline drawings of the Sertoli cell.

The Blood-Testis Barrier and Its Implications for Male Contraception

“…This possibility is not just novel, but perhaps essential physiologically, given the diverse cellular and molecular events that are occurring at the microenvironment of the BTB (Lie et al, 2009a). In addition, the number of differentiated Sertoli cells (Orth, 1982) that can support developing germ cells at a Sertoli/germ cell ratio of ϳ1:30 to 1:50 (Weber et al, 1983) in adult rat testes during the epithelial cycle is limited, with ϳ25 to 40 ϫ 10 6 Sertoli cells per testis. For instance, TNF␣ is known to perturb Sertoli cell TJpermeability barrier function by inhibiting the production of occludin, but not ZO-1, and by maintaining the proper level of occludin at the BTB, which is mediated by MMP-9 and collagens (Siu et al, 2003a).…”

Anchoring Junctions As Drug Targets: Role in Contraceptive Development

“…In fact, it has been reported that as much as ϳ40% of the Sertoli cell surface is in contact with elongated spermatids alone (Russell et al, 1986;de França et al, 1993), illustrating that the interaction between the Sertoli cell and this germ cell type is enormous. Indeed, a single Sertoli cell is known to support ϳ30-40 germ cells at different stages of development (Weber et al, 1983;Wong and Russell, 1983). Spermatogenesis is the process by which germ cells develop into mature spermatids under the influence of FSH, testosterone, LH, and estrogen (Steinberger, 1971;de Kretser and Kerr, 1988;Hess et al, 2001;Hess, 2003;Carreau et al, 2008).…”

Abnormal sperm morphology caused by defects in Sertoli cells of Cnot7 knockout mice

“…We noticed that donor cell colonization was less efficient in Cnot7 -/-than in Cnot7 and germ cells is intimate and multi-factorial. In fact, one Sertoli cell has contacts with multiple germ cells, as many as 50, which are different in their differentiation stage (Weber et al, 1983). Sertoli cells nurture and support those germ cells for their proliferation and differentiation by providing growth factors and nutrients.…”