Sustentacular cell
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A sustentacular cell (also refered to as "Sertoli Cells")is a biological cellwhich 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
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.
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