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An In Vitro System to Study Sertoli Cell Blood-Testis Barrier Dynamics

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Permeability Barrier

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 763))

Abstract

The use of an in vitro system based on primary cultures of Sertoli cells isolated from rat testes has greatly facilitated the study of the blood-testis barrier in recent years. Herein, we summarize the detailed procedures on the isolation of undifferentiated Sertoli cells from 20-day-old rat testes, the culture of these cells as a monolayer on Matrigel-coated bicameral units, the characterization of these cultured cells, and the use of the Sertoli cell epithelium for monitoring the integrity of the Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier. This information is based on the routine use of this system in our laboratory to study the Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier in the past two decades, which should be helpful for investigators in the field.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, NY, USA

    Dolores D. Mruk & C. Yan Cheng

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  1. Dolores D. Mruk
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  2. C. Yan Cheng
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Correspondence to C. Yan Cheng .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Smyth Road 501, Ottawa, K1Y 8L6, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Mruk, D.D., Cheng, C.Y. (2011). An In Vitro System to Study Sertoli Cell Blood-Testis Barrier Dynamics. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Permeability Barrier. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 763. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-191-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-191-8_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-190-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-191-8

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