The Nurse Cells of the Seminiferous Tubules Do All of the Following

Question

The nurse cells of the seminiferous tubules do all of the following except
A) maintain the blood testis barrier.
B) support spermiogenesis.
C) secrete inhibin.
D) secrete testosterone.
E) secrete androgen-binding protein.

Accepted Answer

The nurse cells of the seminiferous tubules, also known as Sertoli cells, do not secrete testosterone. Rather, they provide support and nourishment for developing sperm, maintain the blood-testis barrier, secrete inhibin, and secrete androgen-binding protein which binds to testosterone and helps to concentrate it in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Testosterone is primarily produced by Leydig cells located outside of the seminiferous tubules in the interstitial tissue of the testes.