sustentacular cell

{{short description|Structural and metabolic support cell}}

Image:Paraganglioma - s100 - high mag.jpg highlighting the sustentacular cells in a paraganglioma. S100 immunostain]]

A sustentacular cell is a type of cell primarily associated with structural support, they can be found in various tissues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Sustentacular_cell|title=Sustentacular cell - Biology-Online Dictionary {{!}} Biology-Online Dictionary|website=www.biology-online.org|access-date=2019-03-18|archive-date=2015-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011001648/http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Sustentacular_cell|url-status=dead}}

• Sustentacular cells of the olfactory epithelium (also called supporting cells or Sertoli cells) have been shown to be involved in the phagocytosis of dead neurons,{{Cite journal|last1=Suzuki|first1=Yuko|last2=Takeda|first2=Masako|last3=Farbman|first3=Albert I.|date=1996|title=Supporting cells as phagocytes in the olfactory epithelium after bulbectomy|journal=Journal of Comparative Neurology|volume=376|issue=4|pages=509–517|doi=10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19961223)376:4<509::aid-cne1>3.0.co;2-5|pmid=8978466|s2cid=25026550 |issn=1096-9861}} odorant transformation{{Cite journal|last1=Heydel|first1=Jean-Marie|last2=Coelho|first2=Alexandra|last3=Thiebaud|first3=Nicolas|last4=Legendre|first4=Arièle|last5=Bon|first5=Anne-Marie Le|last6=Faure|first6=Philippe|last7=Neiers|first7=Fabrice|last8=Artur|first8=Yves|last9=Golebiowski|first9=Jérôme|last10=Briand|first10=Loïc|date=September 2013|title=Odorant-Binding Proteins and Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes: Implications in Olfactory Perireceptor Events: Odorant-Binding Proteins and Metabolizing Enzymes|journal=The Anatomical Record|volume=296|issue=9|pages=1333–1345|doi=10.1002/ar.22735|pmid=23907783|doi-access=free}} and xenobiotic metabolism.{{Cite journal|last1=Zhuo|first1=Xiaoliang|last2=Gu|first2=Jun|last3=Behr|first3=Melissa J.|last4=Swiatek|first4=Pam J.|last5=Cui|first5=Huadong|last6=Zhang|first6=Qing-Yu|last7=Xie|first7=Yingqiu|last8=Collins|first8=Doris N.|last9=Ding|first9=Xinxin|date=February 2004|title=Targeted Disruption of the Olfactory Mucosa-Specific Cyp2g1 Gene: Impact on Acetaminophen Toxicity in the Lateral Nasal Gland, and Tissue-Selective Effects on Cyp2a5 Expression|journal=Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics|volume=308|issue=2|pages=719–728|doi=10.1124/jpet.103.060301|pmid=14610229|s2cid=2953594|issn=0022-3565}}
• One type of sustentacular cell is the Sertoli cell, in the testicle. It is located in the walls of the seminiferous tubules and supplies nutrients to sperm.{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-382184-3.00004-0 |chapter=The Male Reproductive System |title=Human Reproductive Biology |pages=67–83 |year=2014 |last1=Jones |first1=Richard E. |last2=Lopez |first2=Kristin H. |isbn=978-0-12-382184-3 }} They are responsible for the differentiation of spermatids, the maintenance of the blood-testis barrier, and the secretion of inhibin, androgen-binding protein and Müllerian-inhibiting factor.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
• The organ of Corti in the inner ear and taste buds also contain sustentacular cells.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
• Another type of sustentacular cell is found with glomus cells of the carotid and aortic bodies.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
• About 40% of carcinoids have a scattering of sustentacular cells, which stain positive for S-100.{{cite journal |last1=Burke |first1=AP |last2=Sobin |first2=LH |last3=Federspiel |first3=BH |last4=Shekitka |first4=KM |title=Appendiceal carcinoids: correlation of histology and immunohistochemistry |journal=Modern Pathology |date=November 1989 |volume=2 |issue=6 |pages=630–7 |pmid=2479945 }}