Characterization of Sertoli cell perinuclear filaments

Sertoli cell nuclei are characterized by deep invaginations and, in addition, the orientation of the nuclei with respect to the wall of the seminiferous tubules varies during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. These events may be the result of cytoplasmic filaments acting at the level of the nuclear capsule and may represent significant changes in Sertoli cell activity. Thus, a study was performed to characterize the nature of the perinuclear filaments of Sertoli cells in vivo and in vitro. In Sertoli cells in vivo, microtubules and microfilaments were often detected in the perinuclear cytoplasm, and these cytoskeletal components were observed to course either parallel to, or abut at, the nuclear capsule. In Sertoli cells in vitro, the nuclear infoldings are retained and the perinuclear cytoskeleton was shown to contain microtubules, f-actin, and intermediate filaments. A fixation-permeabilization protocol employing tannic acid-saponin was used and it significantly enhanced the preservation of cytoskeletal components. The presence of f-actin was demonstrated by using the S1 fragment of muscle myosin to decorate the microfilaments. Treatment of the cultured cells with either microtubule or f-actin depolymerizing agents had no effect on nuclear shape. Thus, at present, the function of the prominent perinuclear cytoskeletal components remains unknown.