Quantification of the Human Sertoli Cell Population: Its Distribution, Relation to Germ Cell Numbers, and Age-Related Decline 1

Abstract

The human Sertoli cell population was characterized in 14 men by histometric analysis and by direct counts of nuclei in testicular homogenates. Testes obtained at autopsy were perfused with glutaraldehyde and embedded in Epon. Nucleolar and nuclear volumes were determined by the formula of a sphere given the diameter of the nucleoli or average diameter of nuclei measured at the height and width. Nuclear volume was also estimated by adding volumes of nuclear profiles in 0.5-micron serial sections. Sertoli cell number/g was calculated by the product of the percentage nucleoli or nuclei in the parenchyma, parenchymal volume, and histologic correction factor divided by the volume of a single nucleolus or nucleus. Also, Sertoli cell nuclei were counted directly in homogenates of fixed parenchyma. Number of Sertoli cells/g was similar (P greater than 0.05) whether determined by serial sections or in homogenates, but the estimate based on the nucleolar method was higher (P less than 0.01) and the nuclear measurement method was lower (P less than 0.01) than that for serial sections. A group of 37 men aged 20 to 48 yr had significantly (P less than 0.01) more Sertoli cells than did 34 men aged 50 to 85 yr. It is concluded that: 1) the homogenate method is valid for quantification of the Sertoli cell population, 2) Sertoli cells are evenly distributed in different regions of the testis, 3) the average human Sertoli cell supports relatively few germ cells, 4) the human Sertoli cell population declines with age, and 5) there is a significant relationship between sperm production rates and number of Sertoli cells.

Treatment of gonadotropin-deficient boys with recombinant human FSH: long-term observation and outcome

“…Observations in humans with one of the described gene defects, impairing FSH action (4-6) also suggest that FSH is required for the development of the Sertoli cell population. The number of Sertoli cells is directly associated with sperm-producing capacity, since each of these somatic cells can nurture only a limited number of developing spermatogenetic cells (7). In agreement with these findings, men with idiopathic HH (IHH) and lack of prior endogenous puberty display poor response to pulsatile GnRH in terms of testicular growth and spermatogenesis (8).…”

Increased Testicular Steroid Concentrations in Patients With Idiopathic Infertility and Normal FSH Levels

“…Therefore, in our group of infertile men with normal FSH levels and high endogenous testosterone concentrations, it is tempting to evoke the absence and or presence of unfunctional specific receptors especially for estrogen in the proximal caput epididymis. According to Matsumoto et al [29], we should have quantitatively a normal spermatogenesis in these patients; nevertheless, the number of Sertoli cells is important to consider and a good correlation between the sperm production and that parameter has been reported [23]. Besides the immunological FSH value, the biopotency of FSH should be also taken into account as well as the presence of IgG antibodies [16,22,46,48].…”

Characteristics of Sertoli cells in the ectopic and scrotal testes of unilateral cryptorchid West African dwarf goats

“…It is then most probable that the Sertoli cells in the contralateral scrotal testes of the cryptorchid bucks are more efficient in supporting spermatogenesis. It has been reported that spermatid -Sertoli cell ratio is the determinant of the workload and function of the Sertoli cell [19] and spermatogenic efficiency [12]. The spermatid-Sertoli cell ratio is an important marker of spermatogenesis as it has been demonstrated that relative changes in daily sperm production would adjust the number of spermatids supported by the Sertoli cell population [27].…”