Blood testis barriers

BLOOD TESTIS BARRIERS

Seminiferous tubules are not penetrated by blood and lymph vessels
  • The peritubular cells (Myoid cells) surrounding the seminiferous tubules and the sertoli cell junctional complexes form the blood testis barrier.
  • The primary function is to prevent autoimmune reactions from destroying the developing germ cells.

myoid_cells

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Myoid cells (View the picture)

  • They are the incomplete or partial barriers located in the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules.
  • This barrier is poorly developed in bull, ram and boar.
  • It is not important in farm animals.

Sertoli cell junction

  • The tight junctions formed between two adjacent sertoli cells divide the germ cells in two compartments as basal compartments and adluminal compartments.
  • They are the true blood testis barrier.

The chemical changes which occur in blood cannot occur within the seminiferous tubules.

Blood testis barrier

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Last modified: Wednesday, 6 June 2012, 1:39 PM