Abstract
For those scientists with an appreciation of the complex morphology and physiology of the Sertoli cell, it will come as no surprise that an entire book of almost 500 pages has been devoted to the biology of this unique cell. Sertoli Cell Biology is effectively an update of The Sertoli Cell, a book published back in 1993 by Drs. Lonnie Russell and Mike Griswold, which covered a similar range of Sertoli cell topics, but which has been out of print and unobtainable for some years. While the original book provided an overall review of all aspects of Sertoli cell function and regulation, this new book concentrates on the areas where Sertoli cell knowledge has advanced in the last decade, providing a completely up-to-date combination of molecular, cellular and physiological aspects of Sertoli cell function. Although the subject matter is very focused and specific to the Sertoli cell, the critical role of this cell in testicular function makes the book essential reading for any research scientist working in the field of male reproductive physiology and pathology. It is also a useful reference for toxicologic pathologists, since many testicular toxicants act by disrupting Sertoli cell function, and this book provides an understanding of the potential sites of functional or regulatory disturbance. To this end, an entire chapter is devoted to potential mechanisms of toxic injury and how such disturbances are manifest histopathologically.
This is a well written book filled with cutting edge and up-to-date information by authors eminent within their field. There are 30 color figures incorporated into 12 color plates, which are organized into a single section in the middle of the book and referenced in the text. Although the quality of the pictures is good and each color figure is reproduced as a black and white version within the text, this is not very convenient or easy to access when reading a particular chapter. There is a comprehensive reference list at the end of each chapter and a useful and usable index at the end of the book.
The book is organized into 8 parts which are subdivided into multiple chapters. Part I is an introduction dealing with the discovery and the growth of knowledge about the Sertoli cell. Part II deals with Sertoli cell development as well as regression and recrudescence in seasonally breeding animals. In Part III, functions such as protein secretion and gene expression, secretion of regulatory factors and of proteases and protease inhibitors is discussed; this is of particular relevance for potential toxicologic disturbances. Part IV deals with Sertoli cell endocrinology and signal transduction. Sertoli cell transcriptional regulation is covered in Part V and cell to cell interactions involving the Sertoli cell are discussed in Part VI. Part VII covers pathophysiology of the Sertoli cell, providing examples of toxicological disturbances of Sertoli cell function and morphology. Potential mechanisms of toxicity are reviewed in detail. Finally, Part VIII discusses the role of the Sertoli cell in gonocyte and spermatogonial development and reviews the methods available for long term spermatogonial culture.