What is the name of the cells that secrete testosterone?

The cells that secrete testosterone are known as Leydig cells. These cells are located in the interstitial tissue of the testes and are crucial for the production of testosterone, which plays a vital role in male reproductive development and function. Leydig cells are stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, which prompts them to produce testosterone, influencing various physiological processes, such as spermatogenesis and the development of secondary sexual characteristics during puberty.

Sertoli cells, in contrast, are responsible for supporting and nourishing developing sperm cells during the process of spermatogenesis but do not produce hormones like testosterone. Spermatogonia are the germ cells that undergo mitosis and differentiation to ultimately form sperm, while germinal cells refer to the cells involved in the production of gametes but do not have the specific function of testosterone secretion like Leydig cells do. Recognizing the distinct roles of these different cell types is important in understanding male reproductive physiology.