In which organ are Sertoli cells found?
- (a)Ovary
- (b)Kidney
- (c)Liver
- (d)Testis
Correct — D, Testis. Sertoli cells (also called 'nurse cells') line the seminiferous tubules of the testis, where they nourish and support developing sperm cells through spermatogenesis and form the blood-testis barrier that shields germ cells from the immune system.
- (a)Ovary — The ovary's analogous supporting/nurse cells are granulosa cells, not Sertoli cells.
- (b)Kidney — The kidney's functional units are nephrons, involved in filtration — unrelated to Sertoli cells.
- (c)Liver — The liver is a metabolic and detoxification organ; Sertoli cells are specific to the testis's reproductive function.
Sertoli cells are somatic (non-germ-line) support cells located within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. They nourish developing spermatozoa, secrete fluid that transports sperm, and form tight junctions that create the blood-testis barrier.
Exams often pair this with the testis's other named cell type, Leydig cells (interstitial cells that secrete testosterone) — mixing up 'which cell nourishes sperm' with 'which cell secretes testosterone' is the classic trap.
- Location: seminiferous tubules of the testis
- Function: nourish and support developing sperm (spermatogenesis); form the blood-testis barrier
- Also called 'nurse cells' of the testis
- Distinct from Leydig (interstitial) cells, which secrete testosterone
Both cell types sit in the testis but do very different jobs — a frequent MCQ trap.
- Confusing Sertoli cells (nourishment/support) with Leydig cells (testosterone secretion)
- Assuming Sertoli cells are germ cells — they are somatic support cells
Usually a direct 'which cell/organ' factual recall; sometimes paired with Leydig cells in a match-the-following or assertion-reason format.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Leydig cells, found in the testis, are primarily responsible for secreting:
- (a)Testosterone
- (b)Estrogen
- (c)Insulin
- (d)Growth hormone
Answer(a) Testosterone — Leydig (interstitial) cells secrete testosterone under LH stimulation.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 'blood-testis barrier', which protects developing sperm cells from the immune system, is formed by tight junctions between:
- (a)Leydig cells
- (b)Sertoli cells
- (c)Spermatogonia
- (d)Epididymal cells
Answer(b) Sertoli cells — their tight junctions create the blood-testis barrier.