Movement of water into and out of the cell is fundamental to life. In the male reproductive tract, at the level of the seminiferous epithelium, Sertoli cells are pivotal in mediating the movement of water into the luminal compartment, a process providing a means of transport of spermatozoa into the epididymal ducts. Here, we describe a stopped-flow light-scattering methodology to easily assess the Sertoli cell osmotic water permeability. The devised methodology is well suited for studying how the Sertoli cell's permeability changes following exogenous stimuli.
Keywords: Aquaporin channels; Male fertility; Membrane water permeability; Sertoli cells; Spermatogenesis.