Spermatogenesis -- Organization of the seminiferous epithelium -- Synchronization of spermatogenesis -- Regulation of spermatogenesis -- The Sertoli cell -- Origin and maturation of the Sertoli cell -- Altered Sertoli cell differentiation in testicular disorders -- Differentiation markers of the Sertoli cell -- Sertoli cell intercellular communication -- Knockout and transgenic mouse models and mutations in man -- The differentiation of male germ cells -- The regulation of gene expression during prespermatogenesis -- The regulation of gene expression during spermatogenesis -- Idiopathic male infertility: impaired histone-to-protamine exchange?- Male infertility caused by incorrect transcriptional regulation -- Male infertility caused by incorrect translational regulation -- Male infertility caused by incorrect chromatin condensation -- Carcinoma-in-situ of the testis and testicular germ cell tumour: impaired intercellular communication due to altered Sertoli cell differentiation?- Carcinoma-in-situ of the testis and testicular germ cell tumour -- Sertoli cell differentiation in seminiferous tubules infiltrated with carcinoma-in-situ of the testis -- Role of gap junctional intercellular communication in carcinogenesis -- Role of gap junctional intercellular communication in the development of carcinoma-in-situ of the testis to testicular germ cell tumour -- References -- Subject index.