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The Sertoli cell is the 'nurse' cell of the testes. Its main function is concerned with nurturing the developing sperm cells during the process of spermatogenesis.
Sertoli cells secrete anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during the early stages of fetal life. After puberty, they secrete the hormone inhibin.
The junctions of Sertoli cells form the blood-testis barrier, a structure that partitions the interstitial blood compartment of the testis from the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells control the entry and exit of nutrients, hormones and other chemicals into the tubules of the testis.
Once fully differentiated the Sertoli cell is unable to proliferate and therefore once spermatogenesis has begun no more Sertoli cells are created. Recently however, some scientists have found a way to grow these cells outside of the body. This gives rise to the possibility of repairing some defects that cause male infertility.
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