Influence of Sertoli cell products upon the in vitro survival of isolated spermatocytes and spermatids.

We have investigated the effect of Sertoli cell products upon the in vitro survival of isolated pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids using co-cultures without contact between the somatic and germ cells. 3H-leucine incorporation was measured in such conditions at different culture times and compared with that of isolated germ cells incubated in presence of different energetic substrates. Dependence upon pyruvate and Sertoli cell products with respect to lactate is shown and discussed for both cell types; differences in pyruvate requirement are reported between meiotic and haploid cells.