The seminiferous epithelium lines the seminiferous
tubules in the testis. It consists of a population of sertoli cells
and a spermatogenic cell line. Sertoli cells span the thickness
of the seminiferous epithelium. Sertoli cell characteristics
including the distribution of their intercellular junctions,
divide the seminiferous epithelium into a basal compartment
containing only spermatogonia and an adluminal compartment
containing primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids,
and spermatozoa. The differentiation of spermatogonia into
spermatids does not begin until puberty. Thus, the seminiferous
epithelium does not contain spermatids prior to puberty like
all epithelial layers, the basal surface of the seminiferous
epithelium is bounded by basement membrane