All but one of the following statements describes the necessity of the blood testis barrier.Select the one statement that does not describe a necessity of the blood testis barrier.
A) Spermatogenesis produces new combinations of genes and chromosomes that results in unique antigens that the immune system may see as foreign.
B) Spermatocytes undergo meiosis only during puberty, well after the immune system has come to recognize "self" from "non-self" cells.
C) Sperm can only be produced at temperatures lower than body temperature. Inflammation in the testis could raise the temperature too high to produce sperm.
D) Foreign antigens produced by the newly formed sperm could initiate an autoimmune response against the developing sperm.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The blood-testis barrier is essential for protecting developing sperm from the immune system, not for temperature regulation. Choices A, B, and D all relate to protecting sperm from being attacked by the immune system, which could recognize the unique antigens on sperm as foreign. Choice C, regarding temperature regulation, does not describe a necessity of the blood-testis barrier.

All but One of the Following Statements Describes the Necessity