Sertoli Cells vs Leydig Cells: Difference and Functions
Biology · Human Reproduction · NEET
Sertoli cells sit inside the seminiferous tubules and feed the developing sperm, so they are called "nurse cells." Leydig cells (interstitial cells) sit outside the tubules in the gaps between them and make androgens like testosterone. Memory hook: Sertoli = "Support inside," Leydig = "Lounging in the gaps making hormones."
Sertoli cells lie inside the seminiferous tubule and nourish sperm (FSH target); Leydig cells lie outside in the intertubular gaps and secrete androgens (LH target).
Your doubts, answered
Are Sertoli cells and Leydig cells the same thing?
No. They are two different cell types in the testis. Sertoli cells are found INSIDE the seminiferous tubules, along the wall, and they support and feed the germ cells becoming sperm. Leydig cells (also called interstitial cells) lie OUTSIDE the tubules, in the intertubular spaces, and they make androgens. A common NEET trap is to swap their location or their job.
Which cells produce testosterone, Sertoli or Leydig?
Leydig cells produce androgens, and testosterone is the main androgen. Sertoli cells do NOT make testosterone. NCERT is direct: 'The Leydig cells or interstitial cells, which are present in the intertubular spaces produce a group of hormones called androgens.' So any statement saying 'androgens are produced by Sertoli cells' is FALSE.
Do FSH and LH act on the same testis cell?
No, and this is a very common exam confusion. In the male, FSH acts on the Sertoli cells (helping spermiogenesis and sperm nourishment). LH acts on the Leydig cells and stimulates them to make androgens. Remember: FSH to Sertoli, LH to Leydig. In the female, LH triggers ovulation, so students wrongly assume FSH pairs with Leydig, but it does not.
Why are Sertoli cells called nurse cells?
Because they provide nutrition to the developing germ cells inside the seminiferous tubule. Spermatozoa get their nutrition from Sertoli cells, and during spermiation the sperm heads stay embedded in Sertoli cells until they are released. This 'nursing' role is why they are named nurse cells or supporting cells.
Which cells secrete inhibin?
Inhibin is secreted by the Sertoli cells in the male testis (and by granulosa cells in the female ovary). Inhibin suppresses FSH secretion by feedback. Leydig cells do NOT secrete inhibin; they secrete androgens. A 2016 NEET question tested exactly this by tempting students with 'nurse cells in testes' as the source.
Are Leydig cells found in the ovary?
No. Leydig cells are found in the testis, in the spaces between the seminiferous tubules. NCERT even asks this as a true/false: 'Leydig cells are found in ovary' is FALSE. The female equivalent that makes androgens/estrogen is the ovarian follicle cells, not Leydig cells.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ FSH acts upon ovarian follicles in females and on Leydig cells in males. ✓ FSH acts on ovarian follicles in females but on Sertoli cells in males; it is LH that acts on the Leydig cells to make androgens. 🧠 In males the pairing is fixed: FSH to Sertoli, LH to Leydig. NEET 2024 made this an Assertion-Reason trap where the Assertion (FSH to Leydig) is false but the Reason (follicles make estrogen, interstitial cells make androgen) is true, giving answer 'A is false but R is true.'
Real NEET questions
2024
Assertion A: FSH acts upon ovarian follicles in female and Leydig cells in male. Reason R: Growing ovarian follicles secrete estrogen in female while interstitial cells secrete androgen in male human being. Choose the correct answer.
A · Both A and R true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
B · A is true but R is false
C · A is false but R is true ✓
D · Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Solution: Reason R is true: growing follicles secrete estrogen and interstitial (Leydig) cells secrete androgens. Assertion A is false because in males FSH acts on the Sertoli cells, not the Leydig cells; it is LH that acts on the Leydig cells. So A is false but R is true.
2016 · 2019
Select the incorrect statement:
A · FSH stimulates the sertoli cells which help in spermiogenesis
B · LH triggers ovulation in ovary
C · LH and FSH decrease gradually during the follicular phase ✓
D · LH triggers secretion of androgens from the Leydig cells
Solution: During the follicular phase LH and FSH actually increase and peak at mid-cycle, so that statement is incorrect. The other three are correct and directly link FSH to Sertoli cells and LH to Leydig cells.
2016
Identify the correct statement on 'inhibin':
A · Inhibits the secretion of LH, FSH and Prolactin
B · Is produced by granulosa cells in ovary and inhibits the secretion of FSH ✓
C · Is produced by granulosa cells in ovary and inhibits the secretion of LH
D · Is produced by nurse cells in testes and inhibits the secretion of LH
Solution: Inhibin is made by granulosa cells in the ovary (and Sertoli cells in the testis) and it suppresses FSH, not LH. The 'nurse cells in testes' option is a trap because inhibin does come from Sertoli cells, but those cells inhibit FSH, not LH.
Solved Human Reproduction NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
What is the main difference between Sertoli cells and Leydig cells?
Location and job. Sertoli cells are inside the seminiferous tubules and nourish developing sperm. Leydig cells are outside the tubules in the intertubular spaces and secrete androgens like testosterone.
Do Sertoli cells make any hormone?
Yes, Sertoli cells secrete inhibin, which suppresses FSH by feedback. But they do NOT make testosterone or androgens; that is the Leydig cells' job.
What is another name for Leydig cells?
Interstitial cells. They are called this because they lie in the interstitial (intertubular) spaces between the seminiferous tubules.
What hormone controls Leydig cells?
LH (Luteinising Hormone, also called ICSH in males) acts on the Leydig cells and stimulates them to make and release androgens.
Why is this important for NEET?
Human Reproduction is a high-weightage chapter and the Sertoli/Leydig pairing with FSH/LH appears almost every year as Assertion-Reason, match-the-column, or incorrect-statement questions. Mixing up the two cells is the most common way students lose an easy mark.
