Sertoli cells are the orchestrators of spermatogenesis; they support fetal germ cell commitment to the male pathway and are essential for germ cell development, from maintenance of the spermatogonial stem cell niche and spermatogonial populations, through meiosis and spermiogeneis and to the final release of mature spermatids during spermiation. However, Sertoli cells are also emerging as key regulators of other testis somatic cells, including supporting peritubular myoid cell development in the pre-pubertal testis and supporting the function of the testicular vasculature and in contributing to testicular immune privilege. Sertoli cells also have a major role in regulating androgen production within the testis, by specifying interstitial cells to a steroidogenic fate, contributing to androgen production in the fetal testis, and supporting fetal and adult Leydig cell development and function. Here, we provide an overview of the specific roles for Sertoli cells in the testis and highlight how these cells are key drivers of testicular sperm output, and of adult testis size and optimal function of other testicular somatic cells, including the steroidogenic Leydig cells.

支持细胞是精子发生的协调者；它们支持胎儿生殖细胞对雄性途径的承诺，并且对于生殖细胞发育至关重要，从维持精原干细胞生态位和精原种群，通过减数分裂和精子发生，直到精子形成过程中成熟精子细胞的最终释放。然而，支持细胞也正在成为其他睾丸体细胞的关键调节因子，包括支持青春期前睾丸的管周肌样细胞发育，支持睾丸脉管系统的功能和促进睾丸免疫特权。支持细胞在调节睾丸内的雄激素生成方面也有重要作用，通过将间质细胞指定为类固醇生成的命运，促进胎儿睾丸中的雄激素生成，并支持胎儿和成人间质细胞的发育和功能。在这里，我们概述了支持细胞在睾丸中的具体作用，并强调了这些细胞如何成为睾丸精子输出的关键驱动因素，以及成人睾丸大小和其他睾丸体细胞（包括类固醇睾丸间质细胞）的最佳功能。