Ultrastructural studies demonstrate that epithelial polarity is established in cultured mouse pre-Sertoli cells by extracellular matrix components.
The effect of three different substrates, laminin, fibronectin and reconstituted basement membrane, on isolated mouse pre-Sertoli cells maintained in vitro has been investigated. Cultures were monitored on a daily basis by phase contrast microscopy, and processed for light and electron microscopy at the end of the culture period. Extra-cellular matrix components have been found to influence Sertoli cell differentiation: both fibronectin and laminin promoted cell adhesion and differentiation, though laminin cultures showed poor viability. Pre-Sertoli cells cultured on reconstituted basement membrane showed the highest degree of differentiation, developing a polarized epithelial phenotype and forming cord-like aggregates; such cultures provide a model system for the investigation of factors involved with gonadal differentiation.
Mackay
S
S
Laboratory of Human Anatomy, University of Glasgow, UK. s.mackay@bio.gla.ac.uk
Booth
S H
SH
MacGowan
A
A
Smith
R A
RA
D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000502:physiology; D007797:Laminin / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin