Sertoli cells and spermatogonia

Sertoli cells and spermatogonia are the fundamental cellular components of the seminiferous tubules responsible for male fertility. Sertoli cells, often referred to as nurse cells, provide the necessary microenvironment, structural support, and nutritional requirements for the development of germ cells (Griswold, 1998; StatPearls, 2023). Spermatogonia are the diploid germline stem cells that undergo self-renewal and differentiation to eventually produce mature spermatozoa (Kanatsu-Shinohara & Shinohara, 2013). This cellular system is highly sensitive to hormonal regulation by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and is a primary site of toxicity for many chemotherapeutic agents (O'Shaughnessy, 2014). Although they are not a single molecular target, their interaction is critical for spermatogenesis, and their dysfunction is a hallmark of various forms of male infertility and testicular cancer (Meistrich, 2013). Understanding the signaling between these cells is vital for developing male contraceptives and treating idiopathic infertility.

Other names

Sertoli-germ cell unitSeminiferous epitheliumSpermatogenic niche

Drugs typically act on specific receptors within these cells, such as the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) or androgen receptor (AR) on Sertoli cells, to modulate the spermatogenic environment, or act as cytotoxic agents that deplete the spermatogonia population (O'Shaughnessy, 2014; Meistrich, 2013).