Characterization of a new superfusion, two-compartment culture system for Sertoli cells: influence of extracellular matrix on the cell permeability and dynamics of transferrin secretion.

A new superfusion two-compartment culture system was developed in the laboratory of the author and was used to investigate the influence of testicular extracellular matrix on barrier formation by Sertoli cells in culture, and the acute dynamic changes in the bidirectional secretion of transferrin. Only Sertoli cells growing on extracellular matrix formed a monolayer that was specifically impermeable to inulin, peroxidase, and FSH, but did not affect the passage of testosterone. Moreover, in these conditions, they were highly polarized morphologically. The bidirectional secretion (basal/apical ratio) of transferrin was affected by the duration of the stationary culture preceding the superfusion. After 2 days of culture, the amount of transferrin secreted during the subsequent 20 h superfusion was higher in the basal chamber than in the apical chamber. In contrast, after 5 days of culture, the amount of secreted transferrin was higher in the apical compartment. The author compared his data with those previously reported by other authors, using stationary two-compartment chambers.