Table 3-1. FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY OF SERTOLI CELLS

Physical support of maturing sperm cells
Nutrition of sperm cells
Transport of sperm cells (secretion of fluid and contractility)
Phagocytosis of degenerative/defective sperm cells and residual bodies
Immune protection (blood-testis barrier)
Steroidogenesis
Production of inhibin
Production of androgen-binding protein (ABP)