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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Isolation of Sertoli Cells and Peritubular Cells from Rat Testes
Published on: February 8, 2016
[Estrogens affect Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier in pubertal rats]
Yi-Qing Pan1, Qiang-Su Guo, Ru-Yao Wang
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. ssmu_pan@163.com
Objective:
To investigate the correlation of exogenous estrogens with the expression of FasL in Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier during the differentiation and maturation period of Sertoli cells, and to discuss the related factors that influence the blood-testis barrier of pubertal rats.
Methods:
Super-physiological doses of exogenous estrogenic compounds (diethylstilbestrol and estradiol) were administered to pubertal Sprague-Dawley rats in vitro and in vivo, the FasL expression in the Sertoli cells of the rats detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, and the changes in the blood-testis barrier observed with the electron microscope.
Results:
After the exposure to exogenous estrogens, the FasL expression was markedly up-regulated in the immature Sertoli cells (P < 0.05) as well as in the Sertoli cell membrane and the blood-testis barrier of the epithelium. The tracer lanthanum passed through the blood-testis barrier and reached the whole layer of the epithelium at 18 days.
Conclusion:
Super-physiological dose of exogenous estrogens can change the expression and distribution of FasL in immature Sertoli cells and affect the structure of the blood-testis barrier.
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