Sertoli cells of adult rats "in vitro". A morphologic and functional study.

A cell line obtained from isolated seminiferous tubules of adult rat testis has been studied "in vitro" over a period of 35 days. Light and electron microscopic studies performed from hour 2 to the end of culture have shown the presence of a monomorphic cell population. After 5-6 days of culture the cells formed a monolayer. The cytoplasm of the cells contained numerous lipid bodies and produced numerous projections. The nucleus showed several indentations and one or more nucleoli. From the 9th to the 15th day of culture the cells developed a large amount of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and aggregates of electron dense granules. From the 20th to 40th day the cell cultures progressively degenerated. Immunochemical analysis of the culture medium revealed the presence of estradiol-17beta, which reached its maximum production rate from the 8th day to the 18th day of culture. Corresponding to cell involution estradiol concentration underwent a rapid decrease. On the basis of morphological and biochemical data the cells could be considered Sertoli cells.